Father Odo Gogel, a founding member of our community, died at St. Bernard's Hospital, Milbank, South Dakota on the morning of the First Sunday of Advent, November 28.  Fr Odo was born on February 10, 1924, in Mariah Hill, Indiana.  He attended high school and college at nearby St. Meinrad's Archabbey, and entered the novitiate there on August 10, 1944.  His solemn profession of vows was on September 15, 1948, and he was ordained to the priesthood on May 30,1950. 

Fr. Odo arrived at Blue Cloud in the spring of 1951.  That fall, he was sent to South Dakota State University where besides taking courses in agriculture he helped establish the Newman Center.  After completing his studies, Fr Odo did not become our farm manager but was made procurator instead.   He also taught Church history to the abbey clerics, was our first oblate director, and cared for St. Mary's parish in Wilmot.  In later years, he served as pastor at several other parishes in the Sioux  Falls diocese.  For ten years he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Indian Mission, Stephan.  He served as chaplain for Mother of God Monastery and Harmony Hill High School (Watertown), Flandreau Indian School, St. Luke's Hospital and Mother Joseph Manor (Aberdeen).   He was also involved in several spirituality programs such as Cursillo, Koinonia, REC  and SEARCH.  

People will always remember Fr Odo's enthusiasm and joy.  Always wanting to keep active in ministry, it was a great trial for him to be called back to the abbey in 1995.  But he soon found things to do.  Writing "spiritual snippets" to a multitude of people was a daily occupation.  The past two summers he set out to clear our pastures of thistles.   On one occasion, he suffered a respiratory attack while out in the the pasture with a young man from our associate program.  "What should I do?" asked the concerned associate.  Gasping for breath, Fr. Odo pointed at the ground and said "Get that thistle." 

Although he will not be here to celebrate his golden jubilee of ordination with us in May, we will recall his dedication to the people of God in so many different ways and in so many places.  Fr Odo's funeral was conducted on Dec. 3, 1999.  We ask all our friends to remember him in their prayers.