By CHRISTINE GALT

News Reporter

The Creighton community has lost a Jesuit Brother, a quiet soul and a kind friend. Brother Ed Stetzen, S.J., passed away March 25 in Wauwatosa, Wis. He was 97-years-old.

Stetzen was born in East St. Louis, Ill., on August 22, 1911. He joined the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Mo., and pronounced his first vows as a Jesuit Brother there on May 13, 1941.

He took care of the Florissant dairy until 1947, when he was assigned to work as a carpenter at Holy Rosary Mission on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

“It’s just remarkable how he lived the simple life,” said the Rev. Andy Alexander, S.J., vice president for University Ministry.

“Brother Ed was a faithful Jesuit who did what he was assigned to do and lived a modest life of service.

“He won the respect of the brothers who knew him,” Alexander said.

In 1962 he was missioned to Creighton University.

Stetzen was always interested in what the students were doing, Alexander said. He described Stetzen as “quiet and shy, yet quite personable when you got to know him.”

Colleen Hendrick, senior administrative assistant in the College of Business, went to lunch with Stetzen monthly for more than 11 years.

Hendrick says Stetzen was a gentleman and remembers his stories fondly.

“He enjoyed the Creighton community and watching it each August when the new students were on campus,” she said.

“He was a kind, gentle soul that will be missed.”

During his time at Creighton, Stetzen acted as a buyer, sacristan and wardrobe keeper.

In 2007, his health needs increased and he was missioned to the Jesuit community at St. Camillus in Wauwatosa, Wis., where he passed away.

Even though his health was failing, his mind was sharp, Alexander said.

“It’s amazing because the Brother was still doing his ministry in a quiet way,” he said.

“Sometimes it’s the inspired, quiet, faithful person who makes a difference and inspires us all.”