Jerome Delano Guesnier was born on April 18, 1933, in Seward, Kan. the 5th of 7 children to Joseph A. and Vina Marie (Rickert) Guesnier. He was baptized at St. Francis Xavier Church in Seward and attended parochial grade school there. He commenced his studies at the public high school in nearby Radium, Kan. and soon after became to consider the possibility of a priestly vocation. With his pastor’s guidance he recommended that he transfer to Our Lady of the Ozarks High School Seminary in Carthage, Mo. He took his advice and graduated from high school in 1952. He then entered the college seminary at Conception as a student for the Diocese of Dodge City, Kan. While studying at Conception, Jerome began to recognize another layer to his vocation and sought release from his diocese to enter the novitiate of Conception Abbey and after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree, he entered the novitiate in 1956. Upon profession of his first vows a year later, he was placed under the patronage of the French Jesuit Missionary and North American martyr, St. René Goupil. Frater René proceeded to complete his theological studies, professed his solemn vows and was ordained in 1961.
In 1967 Fr. Rene felt the need to volunteer and serve his country during the height of the Vietnam conflict. He enlisted and became a Chaplain for the United States Army proudly serving two tours of duty in Vietnam (1968-69) and from (1970-71). He completed his final tour of duty in Thailand from (1971-72). Throughout his 20 years of dedicated service to the military he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retired from the United States Army in 1987.
In 1987 he returned to the Conception Abbey where he took on various roles to serve. And then in 1993 he accepted an invitation from his home diocese of Dodge City, Kan. to resume his pastoral duties. In 1994 he was moved to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend as an Associate Pastor where he served until 1995. He then accepted an assignment as Pastor of his hometown parish of St. Francis Xavier Church in Seward along with duo roles serving as the Pastor of St. John the Apostle Church in St. John, Kan. until 2016.
In 2017 he returned to Conception Abbey where he entered his final phase of service in the Ministry of Prayer. Father Rene traveled the far corners of the earth yet remained at heart a Kansas country boy born and bred to Midwestern values of faith, fortitude and family. He faced hardships like all of us but maintained a cheerful and expansive outlook. He was fully prepared for this day having awaited its coming with great longing.
Father René is survived by his brother Joseph (Della) Guesnier of Great Bend and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brothers John (Jack), Willard, Denny, Patrick Guesnier; sister Norma Heinen; and four nephews John, Jr, Gregory, Tommy and Larry Guesnier.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9th, 2024, at the St. Benedictine Chapel with burial at the Conception Abbey Cemetery in Conception, Mo. May he find repose and peace in God’s undying love!
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 19, 2024
