John Rynish

SPRINGFIELD - Monsignor John J. Rynish, 84, died Sept. 23, 2001, in Springfield.

Born Oct. 28, 1917, in Kansas City, he was the son of the late Fredrick and Stanislaa Yacheniak Rynish.

Ordained for the Diocese of Kansas City on Feb. 21, 1943, he served the Kansas City Diocese as associate pastor for Holy Cross Parish in Kansas City and as pastor for St. Wenceslaus Parish in Karlin, Sacred Heart Parish in Bolivar, St. William Parish in Buffalo and St. Canera Parish at Neosho. When the Dioceses of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Springfield-Cape Girardeau were formed in 1956, he was incardinated into the southern Missouri diocese. From 1960-65 he was pastor of St. Eustachius Parish in Portageville; and subsequently served Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield, St. Mary Parish at Pierce City and St. Joseph Parish in Billings. He had also served as administrator for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau from 1969-70 and in 1973.

He is survived by two sisters, Angeline McMurtry of Kansas City and Sister Julia Rynish of Dubuque, Iowa.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. today at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Billings, where a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday by Bishop John J. Leibrecht.

Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery.