Obituary for Reverend Thomas S. Bokenkotter
Reverend Thomas S. Bokenkotter died on Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was born on August 19, 1924, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the beloved son of the late Anthony and Gertrude (nee Wessel) Bokenkotter. He is survived by his sister Jean Ryan (the late Jack), brother Anthony (Tony) Bokenkotter (Sheila) of Grand Rapids, MI and many nieces, nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters: Mary Ellen Aylmore (the late Harold), Alice Roesener (Tom), Ann Phelan; brother: Robert Bokenkotter (the late Jeanne) and niece Mary Ann Swink.
Father Bokenkotter did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and Mount St. Marys Seminary of the West in Cincinnati. He received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome and his Doctorate in Church History from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained on September 8, 1950 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Norwood, Ohio by Bishop George J. Rehring and recently celebrated his 70th Jubilee.
Father Bokenkotter received his first assignment on July 9, 1954, as Assistant at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Carthage (Cincinnati), and to the faculty of Purcell High School. On June 15, 1956, he was appointed Assistant at St. Thomas More Parish, Withamsville (Cincinnati), and tothe faculty of McNicholas High School. On June 22, 1959, he was appointed Assistant at Guardian Angels Parish, Mt. Washington (Cincinnati), while continuing at McNicholas High School. On August 21, 1959, he was appointed to the faculty of St. Gregory Seminary, Mt. Washington, (and continued teaching at McNicholas High School until the end of the 1960 school year). He was also an adjunct professor of Theology at Xavier University. On September28, 1980, Father Bokenkotter was appointed Pastor at Assumption Parish, Walnut Hills (Cincinnati). Father Bokenkotter resigned as Pastor of Assumption Parish on November 1, 1999, and was appointed Administrator of Assumption the following day, November 2, 1999, where he served until Assumption Parish was closed in 2013. During his years of ministry, Father Bokenkotter opened the first soup kitchen in Cincinnati in 1976, which was located in Over-the-Rhine, and opened a second location in Walnut Hills across from Assumption Parish in 1984 (now called Queen City Kitchen). He also opened the Tom Geiger Guest House apartments to aid women and children escaping domestic violence. He is probably best known, however, for the 3 church history books he wrote including the best selling A Concise History of the Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Queen City Kitchen.
Reception of the body will take place on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. followed by visitation until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am at St. Margaret-St. John Church, 6000 Murray Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45227. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
Father Bokenkotter did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and Mount St. Marys Seminary of the West in Cincinnati. He received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome and his Doctorate in Church History from the University of Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained on September 8, 1950 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Norwood, Ohio by Bishop George J. Rehring and recently celebrated his 70th Jubilee.
Father Bokenkotter received his first assignment on July 9, 1954, as Assistant at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Carthage (Cincinnati), and to the faculty of Purcell High School. On June 15, 1956, he was appointed Assistant at St. Thomas More Parish, Withamsville (Cincinnati), and tothe faculty of McNicholas High School. On June 22, 1959, he was appointed Assistant at Guardian Angels Parish, Mt. Washington (Cincinnati), while continuing at McNicholas High School. On August 21, 1959, he was appointed to the faculty of St. Gregory Seminary, Mt. Washington, (and continued teaching at McNicholas High School until the end of the 1960 school year). He was also an adjunct professor of Theology at Xavier University. On September28, 1980, Father Bokenkotter was appointed Pastor at Assumption Parish, Walnut Hills (Cincinnati). Father Bokenkotter resigned as Pastor of Assumption Parish on November 1, 1999, and was appointed Administrator of Assumption the following day, November 2, 1999, where he served until Assumption Parish was closed in 2013. During his years of ministry, Father Bokenkotter opened the first soup kitchen in Cincinnati in 1976, which was located in Over-the-Rhine, and opened a second location in Walnut Hills across from Assumption Parish in 1984 (now called Queen City Kitchen). He also opened the Tom Geiger Guest House apartments to aid women and children escaping domestic violence. He is probably best known, however, for the 3 church history books he wrote including the best selling A Concise History of the Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Queen City Kitchen.
Reception of the body will take place on Friday, July 16, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. followed by visitation until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am at St. Margaret-St. John Church, 6000 Murray Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45227. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery immediately following the Mass.