O’FALLON, Mo. — Msgr. Virgil W. Mank, a retired priest of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, died surrounded by his family, on June 28 at Mt. Carmel West Skilled Nursing Facility in O’Fallon, Mo. He was 76 years old.
Born on Christmas Day in 1939 in New Baden to William C. and Louise A. (Wierich) Mank, he was the oldest of seven children. He was ordained to the diocesan priesthood by Bishop William A. O’Connor on May 22, 1965 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
His more than 50 years of priestly service in the Springfield diocese began as assistant at St. Agnes Parish in Springfield (1965 to 1969) and then at St. Elizabeth Parish in Granite City (1969 to 1970). In Charleston, he was also assistant at St. Charles Borromeo Parish and chaplain of the Newman Catholic Center at Eastern Illinois University from 1970 to 1975. He was associate pastor at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Collinsville from 1975 to 1977 and then co-administrator of St. Mary Parish, Taylorville and St. Rita Parish, Kincaid from 1977 to 1979.
He was pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Ste. Marie and St. Valentine Parish, Bend from 1979 to 1981. He was also pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Glen Carbon from 1981 to 1988; and St. Ambrose Parish in Godfrey from 1988 to 2004. Finally from 2004 to 2009 he was pastor of St. Jerome Parish in Troy and canonical administrator of St. John Neumann School.
Msgr. Mank was also the dean of the Alton Deanery from 1987 until his retirement in 2009. In 1999 he served from Oct. 3 to Dec. 19 as diocesan administrator. He received the papal honor “Chaplain to His Holiness” (the title of Monsignor) by St. Pope John Paul II on Feb. 19, 2002.
Msgr. Mank was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Louis A. Mank and two brothers-in-law, William Wadlow and Richard Gier.
He is survived by two sisters, Darlene Wadlow of Wentzville, Mo., and Mary Geir of Fenton, Mo.; three brothers, Billy (Connie) Mank of Godfrey, James (Lynne) Mank of Bethalto, and Timothy (Michelle) Mank of Waxhaw, N.C.; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews; and many cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated on July 2 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Godfrey. Burial followed at St. Patrick Cemetery in Godfrey.
Memorials may be made to St. Ambrose Parish, 820 W. Homer M. Adams Pkwy., Godfrey, IL 62035; or to The Commission for the Care of Infirm and Retired Priests, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, 1615 W. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702.
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey was in charge of the arrangements.