The Rev. Raymond L. Schoone, 74, was called to his eternal rest on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006, at the Bell Tower Residence in Merrill. He was in the 49th year of his priesthood.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church, Superior, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with Bishop Raphael M. Fliss as presider and the Rev. Philip J. Heslin as homilist.
Father Schoone was born in Harrison, Wis., on Nov. 10, 1931, the son of Lawrence and Cecilia (Zuiker) Schoone. He received his elementary education at Harrison State Grade School, Harrison, attended Tomahawk High School for one year and then graduated from St. Lawrence Seminary High School, Mount Calvary, Wis.
Father then attended St. Francis Major Seminary, Milwaukee, where he received a bachelor of arts degree.
He was ordained a priest on May 31, 1958, by the Most Rev. Joseph J. Annabring, bishop of Superior, at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior. He celebrated his first Mass on June 1, 1958, at St. Augustine Church, Harrison.
ADVERTISEMENT
Father's first temporary appointment was that of summer chaplain at Camp Tomahawk Boy Scout Camp, Birchwood, Wis. Subsequent appointments included assistant pastor at Cathedral of Christ the King and pastor of St. Adalbert Church, St. Louis and St. Anthony, all in Superior.
In 1960, Father accepted Bishop Hammes' invitation to graduate studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. After earning his JCL in 1962, and along with his other parish assignments, Father maintained a number of diocesan appointments at the chancery including: vice-chancellor of the diocese, secretary to the bishop and later chancellor, tribunal officialis, diocesan director of the Propagation of the Faith, vicar for religious and vicar for canonical affairs.
Father retired from active ministry on June 25, 1996. He lived at Royalton Manor in Superior for five years and then moved to the Bell Tower Residence in Merrill. He continued for some years to substitute for other priests who needed to be away from their parishes.
The Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Aug. 7 at St. Augustine Church, Harrison, with the Rev. Edward G. Meulemans as presider and homilist. Interment followed in St. Augustine Cemetery, Harrison.
