Rev. Joseph Halter

1857 - 1896  (39 years)

• Name	Joseph Halter
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	4 Mar 1857	Maryhill (New Germany) Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario   [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  Christened	16 Apr 1857	Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery, Maryhill, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Roman Catholic
  Residence	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	Roman Catholic
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-56913P
  Died	26 Nov 1896	Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada   [1, 5, 6]
  Buried	30 Nov 1896	Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery, Maryhill, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 5, 6]
  Person ID	I56913	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	Edward Halter,   b. 12 Oct 1834, Soufflenheim, District of Haguenau, Alsace, France ,   d. 29 Oct 1917  (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Mary Scharbach,   b. 8 Dec 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 17 Oct 1915  (Age 76 years)
  Married	13 May 1856	St. Boniface Roman Catholic Church, Maryhill, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  Family ID	F18195	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  VERY REV. JOSEPH HALTER. C. R. The Very Rev. Father Johann Steffan, who died so unexpectedly in the first few days of this month, has been followed on Thursday, at the end of the same month by another member of the congregation of the Resurrection. Father Joseph Halter, at present Director of Studies at S. Jerome's College here, died on Thursday evening shortly after 10 pm at St. Joseph's Hospital in Guelph. The deceased was, up until 2 years ago, strong and vigorous and appeared to be the possessor of an iron constitution. However, a serious cold he caught some time ago overcame him to such an extent that he could no longer attain his old vigour, in spite of all precautions. Repeated attacks of flu, and especially, the appearance of a heart problem as a result of an infection of the heart valves, transformed gradually the man brimming with strength and health into a frail and ailing invalid. Soon after the beginning of the current year, he had to give up almost every strenuous activity, however, he retained the supervision of the various faculties in the college until shortly before his death. His heart problems became so prevalent during the course of the summer that even walking caused him breathing problems and caused general exhaustion. His condition then already was declared hopeless by the experts and for months, the patient already accepted his certain fate, full of patience and trust in God and without losing his friendly and open manner, He spent the autumn months in the peaceful and charming vicarage in St. Agatha, and after a stay of several weeks in Berlin, was transferred to the hospital in Guelph, as was announced only last week. In recent weeks, dropsy had affected him as a result of the heart problems, to which also Bright's kidney disease and bronchitis were connected, and recently, in the Guelph Hospital, his condition had been very precarious. On Thanksgiving Day still, he was cheerful when several priests from the college here visited him. Already, on the previous evening, the last rites had been administered to him. Towards 10: 00 o'clock in the evening, signs of approaching death were noted, and Father's death was already mourned in Berlin as a result of a misunderstood telephone message. At 12: 15 a.m. on Friday morning, he actually died, and Father Halter stepped before his Heavenly Judge in the fullest sense and in full surrender. Already on Friday, his remains were brought back to the residence of his father in New Germany. On Sunday afternoon at 4: 00 p.m., the conveyance of the same took place to St.Boniface Church which was adorned with symbols of mourning; a death-watch was held by the coffin surrounded with flowers and candles during the following night by members of the C.M.B.A. of New Germany. Before the burial service on Monday at 10: 00 a.m., the priests present prayed the rites of death. The solemn death service was read in the presence of hundreds of onlookers, not all of whom could find seating in the large church, by Very Rev. W. (Klopfer) Kloepfer, D.D., provincial C.R., assisted by Very Rev. A. Weiler, C.R., D.D., and Very Rev. W.V. Kloepfer, C.R. The local priest, Very Rev. Father St. Foerster functioned as master of ceremonies. The mass was followed immediately by the funeral sermon, held by Very Rev. H. Aeymans, C.R., of St. Agatha. He emphasized the loving and dutiful influence of the departed and reminded his listeners of the great responsibility a priest takes on as a shepherd of souls. He expressed words of consolation to the relatives, and indicated the possibility of an eternal reunion in the afterlife. After Monsignor McEvay, rector of the cathedral in Hamilton, had spoken the last prayers over the coffin, those present approached, in order, to cast a last glance on the well-known features, while a funeral march was played by the organ. A solemn requiem was performed during the service by the students' choir. The school-children led off the procession to the cemetery; about 100 members of the C.M.B.A. of Berlin (to which branch the deceased belonged), Waterloo, St. Agatha, Baden, St. Clements, Hespeler, Galt, Guelph, Stratford and Walkerton followed. The priests present congregated in front of the coffin; among them, besides those already mentioned, the following honourable gentlemen: Vicar-general Elena & T. Spetz, C.R., D.D., of Berlin; Fehrenbach C.R., D.D., of St. Mary's College, Kentucky; Kasprzycki, C.R., Piekowski, C.R., and A. Spetz, C.R. D.D., of Chicago, Guianane of St. Michael's College, Toronto; Hinchy, Hamilton; Slaven, Galt, and O'Loane, S.J., Guelph. The coffin was carried by 6 students from the college. Very Rev. W. Kloepfer carried out the prayers at the graveside, and the good Father was carried to his last resting place with the strains of the beautiful song, "Fate will spare no-one." The number of visitors at the burial from out-of-town was very large; among them were Mr. Chr. Kloepfer from Guelph, M.P. for South-Wellington, Mr. Haas of Walkerton, and Misters F. Buchheit and J. Fornes of Buffalo. Today, Thursday, at 8.00am there will be a solemn memorial mass in the Catholic Church in Berlin. The very Rev. gentleman was a son of Mr. Edward Halter of New Germany and was born there himself on March 4, 1857. After leaving school, he worked in a Guelph store for several years. Then, he attended St. Michael's College in Toronto and later, St. Jerome's College in Berlin. In 1879, he entered the Order of the Resurrection in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1886. On his return, he taught in the college here and then, in St. Mary's College in Kentucky. In Chicago, he founded St. Stanislaus College and headed it for 2 years. In 1892, he returned to Berlin and was named Director of Studies in the College. The deceased was an indefatigable worker, who knew neither fatigue nor rest, was a strict but fair superior, and an eager, self-sacrificing pastor. Study and research were recreation to him. As temporary pastor of the Berlin congregation during the absence of Very Rev. W. Kloepfer a few years ago, he earned the greatest respect and his clear, well-thought-out sermons always made a significant impression. In his dealings, he was always open and affable; pretence was unknown to him; his whole being was one of those which at first repel because of apparent roughness, but which are all the more pleasing as a result of their candour. Although removed forever from our midst, his memory will live forever among his relatives, his fellow priests, the students and members of the Berlin congregation as that of a loving son and brother, a far-sighted advisor, an excellent teacher and a selfless pastor and impressive preacher whose only goal was to honour God and whose constant striving was a loyal and self-sacrificing fulfillment of his duty. One of his pupils. Berliner Journal 3 Dec 1896 pg 3 Col 4 Translated by: Patricia J. Kauk for the Kitchener Public Library

  
  

• Sources

  [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), Obituary of Joseph Halter - 3 Dec 1896. [S91] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Maryhill - St. Boniface Roman Catholic [found cited on various sources on the internet and family histories]. Joseph - 04 March 1857, baptized 16 April 1857. Sponsors Lucas Zettel, Monica Straub. Priest Rev. John Holzer. [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div. 8 Page 70. [S514] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1871, Sect. 2 Page 9. [S3231] Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80835555/joseph-halter. [S91] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Maryhill - St. Boniface Roman Catholic [found cited on various sources on the internet and family histories]. Rev. Joseph Halter - 26 Nov. 1896 died, 30 Nov. 1896 buried, 39 years. 10 months. Belonged to the C. R. , died in St. Joseph's in Guelph. Rev. Wm. Kloepfer was Pries [S91] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Maryhill - St. Boniface Roman Catholic [found cited on various sources on the internet and family histories], Rev. John Holzer. Edward Halter s/o Alex & Carolina Haas married 13 May 1856 to Maria Scharbach d/o Joseph & Theresa Zettel, witnesses: Mathias Fehrenbach & Martianna Halter

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 4 Mar 1857 - Maryhill (New Germany) Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario Christened - 16 Apr 1857 - Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery, Maryhill, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Roman Catholic - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Roman Catholic - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 26 Nov 1896 - Guelph City, Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada Buried - 30 Nov 1896 - Saint Boniface Roman Catholic Cemetery, Maryhill, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth