Newspaper:  Chicago Tribune (1963-Current file)
Event:  Obituary
Publication:  23 Jun 1966 - Chicago, Illinois

The Rev. Ambrose Weitekamp
Mass for the Rev. Ambrose M. WEITEKAMP, 71, of Tampico, Whiteside county, will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow in St. Mary's Catholic church in Tampico, where he has been pastor for about 20 years. Father WEITEKAMP died Tuesday of a heart attack in a Crystal Lake motel during a motor trip. He had served in parishes in Dixon, Sterling, Spring Grove, and Prophetstown.

TAMPICO TORNADO
June 30, 1966  1;1

PONTIFICAL MASS FOR REV. A.M. WEITEKAMP

A pontifical requiem mass for Rev. Ambrose M. Weitekamp, 71, pastor of St. Mary's church, Tampico, was celebrated at St. Mary's church Friday at 11 a.m. The Most Reverend Bishop Loras T. Lane D. D. of Rockford Diocese officiated.

Rev. Weitekamp was born in Brooklyn, N. Y. on May 2, 1895 and was ordained there in 1924. Ordained for the Rockford Diocese, he was first assigned as an assistant at St. Patrick's parish, Dixon and St. Mary's parish, Sterling. In 1929 he was made pastor of St. Peter's parish, Spring Grove and in 1933 was named pastor of St. Catherine's parish, Prophetstown. In 1946 he was named pastor at St. Mary's parish, Tampico and had faithfully served in that capacity until his sudden passing at Crystal Lake on Tuesday, June 21.

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis J. Franey, chancellor of Rockford Diocese, was assistant priest for the funeral mass. Rt.  Rev. Msgr. Thomas S. Green, Msgr. Thomas Feeney and Mgr. Clement Weitekamp served as deacons of honor. Deacon and sub-deacon were Rev. Leo H. Ambre and Rev. Cletus A. Anger, Rev. Thomas Doran, secretary to the Bishop, served as master of ceremonies. Rev. Robert Devine, Rev. Alfred Krug and Rev. William McDonnell were assistants to the Bishop. Rev. Raymond Holmgren and Rev. Melvyn Vlasz were acolytes. Rev. Charles McNmee delivered the sermon. The priests choir sang the requiem mass.

Bishop Lane officiated at graveside services in St. Mary's cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Edward Burke, Al Staelens, Noah Hermie, Arnold McCauley, Joseph Perino and Thomas Cunniff of St. Mary's parish.

Approximately 100 clergy of Rockford Diocese attended mass in a body. Altar boys of St. Mary's, Tampico and members of Knights of Columbus, Sterling, also attended in a body.

Lunch was served at the parish hall to clergy, relatives and friends by members of the Altar and Rosary society.

Rosary was recited at the church Thursday at 2 p.m.  by members of the Altar and Rosary society and at 8 p.m. by members of the Holy Name society of St. Mary's parish. Members of the Holy Name society maintained a vigil guard at the church Thursday evening.

Rev. Weitekamp was born May 2, 1895 in Brooklyn, N. Y., a son of Joseph and Mary Weitekamp.

He is survived by three sisters, Sister Grace Agatha, Flushing L. I., Mrs. Marie Guerin, California and Mrs. Madeline Jaeger, Richmond Hills, N. Y.; two brothers, Henry and Theodore state; several nieces and nephews; one cousin, Msgr. Clement Weitekamp, New Jersey and one nephew, Christian Brother Raymond Weitekamp, New York.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Frank, Aloysius, Fr. Joseph and Fr. Godfrey; and a sister, Rosina.

During 20 years of service at St. Mary's Rev. Weitekamp made many friends in all faiths.