Msgr. Herbert G. Engelhardt

Msgr. Herbert G. Engelhardt, a retired diocesan priest, died May 23, 2015, at age 99.

Msgr. Engelhardt was born March 24, 1916, in Buffalo, the son of Peter and Anna (Yax) Engelhardt. He attended Diocesan Preparatory Seminary in Buffalo and Our Lady of the Angels Seminary at Niagara University before Bishop John A. Duffy ordained him to the priesthood on May 18, 1940.

He was named to a missionary apostolate in Sinclairville before being named assistant pastor of several parishes: St. Joachim in Buffalo from 1941-1942, Holy Cross in Buffalo from 1942-1943, Sacred Heart in Niagara Falls from 1943-1944 and St. Boniface in Buffalo from 1944-1945.

From 1945-1948, Msgr. Engelhardt was a U.S. Army chaplain for Howard Air Base in the Panama Canal Zone. Between 1950 and 1958, he was a U.S. Air Force chaplain at Stewart Air Base in Tennesee, Chaumont Air Base in France, McClellan Air Base in California and Itazuke Air Base in Japan. His military service earned him a U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal, which he received in 1975.

In 1958, Msgr. Engelhardt returned to the United States to serve as assistant pastor of Most Precious Blood Parish in Angola, after which he was administrator of St. Peter Parish in LeRoy until 1959. His longest assignment was as pastor of Good Shepherd in Pendleton, where he served from 1959-1971. From 1971 to 1982, he was pastor of Fourteen Holy Helpers in West Seneca.

In 1981, he was given the title of monsignor, after which he was pastor of St. John the Baptist in Boston from 1982-1991. He retired in July 1991.

Msgr. Engelhardt also served as a chaplain of the Reserve Officers Association, on the Priest Senate and was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus. He received an achievement medal from Niagara University.

A funeral Mass was held at Fourteen Holy Helpers Church in West Seneca, with burial in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga.