COURTESY OBIT FOR THE FAMILY

Monsignor Adrian F. Herbek of Lincoln, Nebraska

Rev. Msgr. Adrian F. Herbek, 90, passed away at Bonacum House in Lincoln on Friday, October 4, 2024 with family at his side.

Monsignor's pastoral life of 50 years (1959-2009) included being in charge of Catholic high

schools and providing the best well-rounded Catholic education for the students, inspiring them

to live a life pleasing to God. He was born on the farm by Deweese, NE, on March 13, 1934–

attended rural grade school on the farm, and graduated from Nelson High School. At the age of

17, he entered Conception Seminary in Missouri, taught by the Benedictine Monks for 8 years

(1951-59), preparing for Ordination to the priesthood which took place in Deweese on June 5,

1959 by Bishop James Casey.

His first assignment was St. Wenceslaus Parish in Wahoo (1959-62) where he taught Religion,

Latin, and directed the marching band, and coached all the sports. He organized a project to

collect 3,000 Gold Bond trading stamps for a new 48-passenger school bus. His second

assignment was at the new Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln for 3 years (1963-66) while

it was being built and teaching at Pius X High School. Monsignor's third assignment was in

Butler County for 43 years (1966-2009) as Principal and later Superintendent of Aquinas High

School in David City. He received his Administration Degree from Catholic University in

Washington, D.C. and Creighton University in Omaha. He then served as pastor of St. Francis

Parish in Center, south of David City for 17 years (1973-1990) continuing as Superintendent. In

1990 he was assigned pastor of St. Mary's in David City for 19 years (1990-2009), again

continuing as Superintendent. Assumption Parish in Appleton was a rural mission attached to

St. Mary's Parish. In 1991 he was invested as an Honorary Prelate to His Holiness, Pope John

Paul II, with the title of Reverend Monsignor. He retired from active ministry, June 15, 2009, at

the age of 75, ordained 50 years, and moved to Bonacum House in Lincoln. However, in 2010,

he was requested to continue ministering in Valparaiso until 2011, and filled in for parishes

across the state when needed for 8 more years. The Bishop requested him to pastor in Friend,

NE which he graciously did from 2019-2021. He officially retired in 2021 at the age of 87 and

recently celebrated his 65th year as an ordained priest in June 2024. Throughout his 90 years–

he enjoyed taking vacations with family, friends & fellow priests, seeing family whenever he

could and in retirement enjoyed the new hobby of coloring and completing religious diamond art.

He was always ready for a reunion or celebration and cherished his time with his 12 nieces and

nephews, 35 great nieces and nephews, their families and cousins!

He is survived by his sisters Mildred Lemke of Superior, NE, Mary Ellen Karsting of Lake

Havasu City, Arizona, Sister Rosaline of the Marian Sisters at Waverly, NE.

He was preceded in death by brother Bernard and his sister-in-law Dolores Herbek, by his

brothers-in-law, Mike Karsting and Arnold Lemke, and by his parents, George and Mary (Drudik)

Herbek.

Family will be present 6-7pm at the Cathedral of The Risen Christ, 3500 Sheridan Blvd in Lincoln, on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Rosary will follow  at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 11 at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz as celebrant and the priests of the Lincoln Diocese as Con celebrants.

In lieu of flowers, plants and statues, requested memorials to: Aquinas Catholic schools, St. Mary's Church in David City, Assumption Church- Appleton, Saint Francis Church in Center, NE.