Father Lawrence G. Dunklee, 58, died at Sacred Heart Hospital on January 7, 2011, after a brief and courageous battle with esophageal cancer.\r\nFather Dunklee was born in Hillsboro, Wisconsin, on August 12, 1952 to Lawrence and Kathleen Dunklee. He attended Edgewood College in Madison, WI, and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1974. He then entered St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, WI, and received his Master of Divinity in 1978. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of La Crosse by Bishop Frederick Freking on May 28, 1978.\r\nFather's first assignment as a priest was associate pastor of St. Michael Parish in Wausau, WI. Always having an affinity for the healthcare apostolate, Father Dunklee was named Director of Pastoral Care at St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point, WI, from 1981 until 1988. During that time, he also attended St. Louis University and received his Master of Arts Degree in Religious Studies with a concentration in Medical Ethics, graduating summa cum laude in 1985. He was named Bishop's Liaison for Health Affairs for the Diocese of La Crosse in 1988.\r\nFather Dunklee served as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Stanislaus Parishes in Arcadia, WI, from 1988-1989. Father Dunklee served as a priest chaplain at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI, from 1990 until 1992, and then was named pastor at Roncalli Newman Parish in La Crosse, WI from 1992 until 1996. He was named pastor at St. Charles Parish in Genoa, WI, from 1996 until 2002, and pastor at St. Mary Parish in Coon Valley, WI, from 2004 until 2005. From 1996 until 2005, he faithfully served the Diocese of La Crosse as the Vicar for Priests. \r\nIn 2005, Father Dunklee returned to the healthcare apostolate when he was appointed Director of Pastoral Care for Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. His vision, however, was to extend pastoral care outside the walls of the hospital, to reach area churches and the community. In 2006, he founded the Center for Spiritual Care, a "Center of Faith, Life and Hope in the heart of Sacred Heart Hospital." The Center's Speakers' Bureau, of which Father was the main component, offered over 80 presentations a year on spirituality, ethics and healthcare. In 2009, he was the keynote speaker at UW-EC's Senior Americans' Day, speaking to a sell-out crowd of over 500 people. Well known for his inspirational presentations, laced with a bit of Irish humor, Father was often asked to return repeatedly at annual speaking engagements.\r\nIn 2006, Father Dunklee was named Director of Mission Integration for Sacred Heart Hospital. He was instrumental in the formation of over 1,400 hospital staff members in the area of Franciscan formation and mission integration. He also oversaw the work of The Healing Place: A Center for Life's Journeys, Sacred Heart Hospital's grief and bereavement center. In 2007, he was named Vice-President of Mission and Pastoral Services for the Western Wisconsin Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, of which Sacred Heart Hospital is a part.\r\nAlways wanting to increase his knowledge, Father Dunklee completed the National Catholic Bioethics Center's Certification Program in Ethics in 2009, which served to enhance his already broad knowledge of the world of healthcare ethics. Also in 2009, Father Dunklee was appointed to the Catholic Health Association's National Theologian/Ethicist Committee.\r\nFather Dunklee's expertise in medical ethics was recognized and affirmed when he was appointed System Director of Ethics for the Hospital Sisters Health System on February 15, 2010. Father provided his ethical and theological expertise to the 13 hospitals within the HSHS system. \r\nFather Dunklee was the primary author of the Pastoral Letter of Wisconsin Catholic Bishops, Now and at the Hour of Our Death, which was published by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference in April 2002, and reissued in March of 2006. In the last two years, he also had five articles published in national publications in regard to healthcare ethics.\r\nDuring his 32 years of priestly ministry, in addition to serving as Vicar for Priests for nine years, Father also served the Diocese of La Crosse in a number of different capacities: Chair of the Presbyteral Council, member of the Personnel Council, Moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and Chair of the Diocesan Healthcare Advisory Council.\r\nIn September of 2010, Father Dunklee was honored by his alma mater, St. Francis Seminary, when he was awarded the seminary's highest honor, the "Sal Terrae" award. This award, granted by Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee, is given to an alumnus who has exemplified "heroic and extraordinary service to the Church." Also in September, 2010, Father Dunklee received another national award, the Dorland People Health Award, in the category of Ethicist.\r\nEven in illness, Father Dunklee continued to be a source of inspiration for physicians, hospital staff and the community alike. When diagnosed with esophageal cancer in October of 2010, Father courageously wrote a beautiful statement regarding his diagnosis to be given to the physicians, leadership, and hospital staff, and to be read at the weekend Masses at the Sacred Heart Hospital Chapel. With simple yet profound words, Father acknowledged that while he felt fear at facing the unknown, he found comfort and consolation in the beautiful words emblazoned on Sacred Heart Hospital's doors, "There is hope here." \r\nHis many titles and responsibilities only partially describe the ministry of Father Dunklee. Anyone who had the privilege of hearing Father offer an inspirational homily during Mass, or saw him gently touch the hands of a dying patient while offering the Sacrament of the Sick, knew that he was a deeply spiritual man, who, through his many talents and gifts, offered the healing compassion of Christ to all those he encountered.\r\nFather Dunklee is survived by his sister, DonnaMarie (William) Schultz; his brother, Dennis (Ellen) Dunklee; nieces Noreen and Margaret Schultz, Lisa (Thomas) Wrobleski; nephew James Dunklee; brother priest and good friend for over 30 years, Monsignor Edmund Klimek; and his dedicated pastoral care staff at Sacred Heart Hospital: Sister Monica Mai, OSB, John Bryant, Sister Carolyn Wildrick, OP, Moira Kneer, David Lato, and Mary Ellen Bliss. He was preceded in death by his dear parents, Lawrence and Kathleen Dunklee.\r\nThe Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 10, 2011 at Saint James the Greater Parish in Eau Claire. Bishop William Callahan will be the main celebrant and Father David Kunz the homilist. \r\nVisitation will be held at the Father Christopher Chapel at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire on Sunday, January 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with Evening Prayer from the Office of the Dead at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church one hour prior to the funeral.\r\nIn lieu flowers, donations can be sent to Sacred Heart Hospital's Center for Spiritual Care or The Healing Place: A Center for Life's Journeys. \r\n"May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand."\r\n

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