Father Marion Sitzmann, O.S.B., a member of Mount Michael Benedictine Abbey, died on August 1, 1994, at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha. Father Marion was born on January 11, 1929 in Kingsley, Iowa, the son of George and Johanna Sitzmann. He graduated from Conception High School before attending Conception College Seminary in Missouri.

After entering the Benedictine novitiate, he professed vows on September 12, 1950, and was ordained by Bishop John P. Cody on May 28, 1955. Throughout his religious life Father Marion first served in several assignments as a monk of Conception Abbey. At Mount Michael Abbey he taught speech and debate in the junior college and high school.

Father Marion received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern Illinois. He taught at Bellevue University, University of Maryland and for the past twenty-one years at Creighton University. He was an accomplished writer, having published four books and multiple articles in professional journals.

The one quality which was consistent in Father Marion’s life was that of dedication. Anyone who ever met him was soon well aware of that. He was dedicated to his vocation as priest and monk. He was dedicated to his natural family: his priest brother and his nine sisters, seven whom were religious (two Benedictines, three Servants of Mary and two Dominicans). He followed their careers with great pride. He was equally proud of his marred sisters and his many nieces and nephews. Father Marion was deducted to his religious family at Mount Michael Abbey. He was interested in the well being of each one, and very solicitous that Mount Michael High School be the very best that it could be.

Creighton University was also the object of his dedication. During his many years he taught there, he demanded excellence both from staff and students. He was also dedicated to the parishioners of St. Frances Cabrini parish and entered into their lives with the same concern and dedication. During his career he met and made many close friends. He loved fish and race horses and pursued them with tenacity. All of this dedication was related to his pursuit of God and God’s will in his life. It was his “prayer and work.”

A vigil service was held on Wednesday evening, August 3rd, at 7:30 P.M. at the Mount Michael Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday morning, August 4th, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Patrick’s Church in Elkhorn followed by burial in the Abbey cemetery. Please remember him gratefully in your prayers.