Father Milton Thomas

Father Milton A. Thomas, 78, of the Nebraska Veterans Home, Grand Island, Nebraska died, Friday, April 16, 2010 at St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Island, Nebraska.

Rosary will be Tuesday, April 20, 2010; 7:30 P.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Hastings, Nebraska. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, April 21, 2010; 11:00 A.M. at St. Michael's Catholic Church with The Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz as the main celebrant. Burial will be Wednesday, April 21, 2010; 4:00 P.M. at Calvary Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 20, 2010; 9 A.M. - 5 P.M. at Butler Volland Funeral Home and 6:30 P.M. until the rosary at the Church. There will be visitation Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be given to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary, Seward, Nebraska.

Father Milton A. Thomas was born July 5, 1931 at Brown's Valley, Minnesota to Rudolph B. & Lauretta May (Matteson) Thomas. Father Milton A. Thomas served in United States Air Force from 1951 until 1954. He attended college at the Crosier Seminary, Onamia, Minnesota and studied philosophy and theology at the Crosier House of Studies, Fort Wayne, Indiana. He professed his Solemn Vows to the Crosier Fathers on August 28, 1961. Father Thomas was ordained on May 23, 1964 by the Most Reverend Leo Pursley in Fort Wayne, Indiana for the Crosier Fathers (Order of the Holy Cross). Father Thomas assignments included, Immaculate Conception Monastery, Hastings, Nebraska serving as Pastor at parish missions of St. Patrick, Highland and St. Ann, Doniphan (St. Patrick's closed September of 1969) 1964-1970. Holy Cross Church, Duluth, Minnesota various assignments in Canonical areas 1970-1982. St. Paul's Pontifical University Ottawa, Canada Mastes and Lincentiate in Canon Law 1982-1984. St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Michigan Diocesan and Crosier consultant 1984-1986. Immaculate Conception Monastery, Hastings, Nebraska parish missions 1986-1997. Appointed by Bishop Bruskewitz to the preparatory committee for the Eucharistic Congress held on September 10, 1995. Appointed Faithful Friar of the Pius XII Fourth Degree Assembly # 0608, Knights of Columbus, Hastings, Nebraska. Appointed Promoter of Justice, Tribunal of Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska 1997. Petitioned Rome

for Incardination into Lincoln Diocese 1999. Appointed Defender of the Bond Tribunal of Diocese of Lincoln, relieved of Promoter of Justice for the same Tribunal 1999. Incardinated into Diocese of Lincoln 1999. Residence in Lincoln, with Tribunal Duties retained 2000. Retired from active ministry and moved to Hastings 2006. Moved to Grand Island Veterans Home 2006.

Father Milton A. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Ruth Cook and brother Charles Thomas.

SURVIVORS:
Sister: Ardis V. O'Banion - Kirkland, WA
Brothers: Darrell Thomas - Forks, WA
Walter Thomas - Muskegon, MI
Several Nieces & Nephews