Reverend Monsignor Orra Charles Schluter
February 18, 2020
Baraboo - Reverend Monsignor Orra Charles Schluter,
75, of Baraboo, entered eternal life on February 16, 2020 at the age of 75, at
Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He was born on February 4, 1945 in Fort Knox,
Kentucky, and is predeceased by his parents,
Charles
and Frances (Ellison) Schluter and sister-in-law, Patricia. After attending St. Joseph Parish Catholic Grade
School, Baraboo, Wisconsin, Msgr. Schluter attended public High School in Baraboo.
He started his collegiate studies at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, where he
earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. He studied for a master’s degree
in history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He attended St. Francis
Major Seminary, Saint Francis, Wisconsin, where he earned a Masters in Divinity
in Theology. Msgr. Schluter was ordained to the sacred priesthood by The Most
Reverend Cletus F. O’Donnell, Bishop of Madison, on May 26, 1978 at St. Raphael
Cathedral, Madison. He received Papal Honors through Investiture as a Prelate
of Honor (Monsignor) on May 20, 2005. Msgr. Schluter was a Veteran of the
United States Army serving his country from 1968 to 1970. Msgr. Schluter began serving in the Diocese of Madison
as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Madison, and St. Paul Catholic
University Parish, Madison.
He then
became an instructor at Holy Name Seminary for 10 years before becoming
Administrator of St. Philomena Parish, Belmont, with the missions of St.
Michael Parish, Calamine and Immaculate Conception Parish, Truman.
Msgr. Schluter then was Pastor of St.
Barnabas Parish, Mazomanie, with the mission of St. John the Baptist Parish,
Mill Creek; St. Mary Parish, Platteville; St. Augustine Parish, Platteville;
and St. Peter Parish, Madison, from which he retired in 2019. During his years
of service to the Diocese of Madison, Msgr. Schluter served as a Chair of the
Presbyteral Council; as a member of the Diocesan Golden Jubilee Central
Committee; as State Court Chaplain – Catholic Daughters of the Americas; as
Diocesan Archivist; and as Director of the Office of Continuing Education for
Priests. Survivors include four siblings, Gary (Sandra)
Schluter, Eric Schluter, Jean (George) Cooper, Mary (Jim) Friesen; nieces,
nephews and many friends. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St.
Joseph Catholic Church, 304 East Street
in Baraboo, Wisconsin,
on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 11:00 am. The Most Reverend
Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, will celebrate the Holy Mass, with The Reverend
Monsignor Daniel T. Ganshert as homilist.
Visitation will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday, February
19, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from
9:00 a.m. until the start of the Holy Mass.
Burial will take place at St. Joseph Parish
Cemetery, Baraboo, Wisconsin, with military honors. A funeral luncheon will
take place in the parish hall after the burial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be
directed to the ALS Association Wisconsin Chapter, 3333 North Mayfair Rd., Suite
104, Wauwatosa, WI 53222-2319 or https://www.alsawi.org/donate
.
Baldwin
Funeral Services, 520 East St., Baraboo, is assisting the family with
arrangements.
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