KAUKAUNA — Fr. William M. Kuhr, a Diocese of Green Bay priest who served as administrator, pastor, diocesan director of vocations and chaplain to the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, died on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the age of 84 at St. Paul Elder Care.
Fr. Kuhr was born in Neenah, WI, on July 23, 1941, the oldest of seven children of Roy and Virginia (Letter) Kuhr. He attended high school and junior college at Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida. He received a B.A. in philosophy at St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, in 1963. Five years later in 1967, he received his B.A. in theology at St. Francis Seminary.
On May 27, 1967, Father Kuhr was ordained at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, by Bishop John Grellinger.
Fr. Kuhr began his ministry at St. Bernadette Parish, Appleton, first serving as assistant and later as administrator. In 1971, he was appointed associate pastor—later parochial vicar—at Holy Innocents Parish, Manitowoc. From 1973 to 1978, he served as the diocesan director of vocations. In 1978, Fr. Kuhr was appointed temporary administrator of St. Anthony Parish, Niagara, followed by a similar role at St. Patrick Parish, Menasha, in 1979. He was then appointed pastor of Most Precious Blood Parish, New London, serving until 1987 when he became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Appleton, where he stayed for 11 years.
In 1998, Fr. Kuhr was appointed administrator, and later pastor, of St. Mary Parish, Algoma. During this time, he also served as temporary administrator for Holy Trinity Parish, Casco/Slovan, and Holy Rosary Parish, Kewaunee. In 2002, he was appointed pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, Kewaunee, in addition to his role at St. Mary Parish. In 2005, Fr. Kuhr was appointed pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Neenah. In 2007, Fr. Kuhr was appointed chaplain to the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother at Franciscan Courts, Oshkosh. Fr. Kuhr received senior status in 2011.
Fr. Kuhr loved his vocation as a priest. He was grateful for the opportunity to journey with the faithful, discovering and celebrating the Lord’s presence in the life of the Church. Whether through the Mass, the Sacraments, sacramentals, devotion to the Blessed Mother and the saints or the quiet witness of lives lived in faith, he found joy in every aspect. This shared experience was, for him, the most cherished gift of his ordained priesthood.
Visitation will be held at St. Margaret Mary Parish, 620 Division Street, Neenah, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with a concluding prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will then continue at the church on Friday, August 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass.
The funeral Mass will be at St. Margaret Mary Parish, Neenah, at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop David Ricken as celebrant and Fr. Timothy Shillcox, O. Praem as homilist. Burial will follow at 2:00 p.m. in St. Margaret Mary Cemetery, Neenah.