KAUKAUNA, WI — The Most Reverend Bishop Robert J. Banks, Bishop Emeritus of Green Bay, died on Sunday, January 25, at 7:51 a.m. at St. Paul Elder Services, Kaukauna, Wisconsin, where he resided at the time of his death.
Bishop Banks was 97 years of age, having been a priest for 73 years (1952) and a bishop for 40 years (1985). At the time of his death, he was among the nation’s oldest bishops.
Before becoming the Bishop of Green Bay from 1990 through 2003, Bishop Banks served the Archdiocese of Boston. He had a special affinity for education, having served St. John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, as a professor of canon law, academic dean, and rector.
Bishop Banks served on national committees and wrote many articles for various theological and religious publications. Other national work included:
- Member of the U.S. Catholic Conference Committee on Education, 1990-1993
- Consultor to the Holy See’s Permanent Interdicasterial Commission for the Distribution of Priests, 1992
- Board of Trustees, Catholic University of America, 1993-1997
- Chairperson, National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) Committee on Education, 1993-1996
- Member, NCCB Administrative Board. 1993-1996
- Treasurer, NCCB, 1996-1999
Reception of the Body and Solemn Vespers will be celebrated for family, priests, deacons and consecrated religious of the diocese on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 139 S. Madison St, Green Bay, WI. Bishop David Ricken, the 12th and current bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, will preside with Fr. Willard Van de Loo offering a homily.
Visitation for all the faithful will be held at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 139 S. Madison St. Green Bay, on Friday, February 6, 2026, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
The funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 a.m., following visitation, with Bishop Ricken as celebrant and Bishop Robert Morneau, who served as an auxiliary bishop of the diocese from 1978 to 2013, as homilist. Burial will follow in the Allouez Catholic Cemetery.
Bishop Ricken asks the faithful of the diocese to join him in prayer for the repose of the soul of Bishop Banks, “who was an outstanding shepherd of the flock entrusted to his care,” he said.