Gutgsell, Fr. Stephen

March 20, 1958 - December 10, 2023

Stephen Gutgsell was born in Kansas City, MO. His family moved to Omaha in mid August of 1961. He attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Holy Name High School. He graduated from St. Thomas College (St. Paul, MN) and completed preparation for ordination to the Catholic priesthood on June 2, 1984.

After assignments in Omaha and rural parishes, he served as parish administrator at Fort Calhoun, NE from 2012.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Josephine and Lee Gutgsell. He is survived by Fr. Michael, Patricia Adler, James, Thomas, Dominic, Mary Ann Guynan, Mary Therese Hupf, Marie Pfau, Mary P. Andersen; and many nieces and nephews.

VISITATION AND ROSARY SERVICE: 4 to 8 p.m., Sunday, December 17, 2023, with ROSARY SERVICE at 7 p.m., all at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, Fort Calhoun.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11:15 a.m., Monday, December 18, 2023, at St. Cecilia's Cathedral, Omaha.

INTERMENT, at Calvary Cemetery.

No Flowers, please. Memorials Suggested to: Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital or St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, Fort Calhoun, NE.

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023

#2-Posted Thursday, December 14, 2023 Enterprise Media Group

By Cheyenne Alexis - features@enterprisepub.com

The suspect charged with killing Fr. Stephen Gutgsell Sunday morning at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church rectory had his first arraignment Thursday in Washington County Court.

Kierre Williams, 43, is charged with first-degree murder, a Class 1 felony; possession of a firearm while committing a felony, a Class 2 felony; burglary with forcible entry; and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, both Class 3 felonies.

First-degree murder is punishable by death in the state of Nebraska.

This first-degree murder charge is the third in Washington County in 2023. Elijah Logan and William Collins are two other suspects charged with first-degree murder.

The arraignment was held via Zoom with Judge Edward Matney, Deputy County Attorney Erik Petersen representing the state, Williams and his attorney Brian Craig.

A preliminary hearing for the matter is scheduled for Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. in County Court. Williams, who Petersen described as having previous criminal charges in five states, plus now Nebraska, will be held without bond.

Petersen also noted Williams does not have a connection to Gutgsell, nor the state of Nebraska.

According to an arrest affidavit, Fr. Gutgsell was stabbed several times in his face, back and hands. He would be transported to an Omaha hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Williams was first located by a Washington County deputy lying on top of Gutgsell in the kitchen of the rectory. He was told to show his hands and get on the ground when the deputy arrived.

Sheriff Mike Robinson and County Attorney Scott Vander Schaaf held a press conference Thursday morning in the multi-purpose room at the Washington County Courthouse.

Robinson addressed members of the news media with the facts of the case thus far.

"At 5:03 a.m., 911 operators received a 911 call of an intruder attempting to gain entry of (Gutgsell's) residence," Robinson said. "At 5:09, deputy Brady Tucker arrived at the scene and observed the front door open and made immediate entry. Deputy placed the suspect into custody, the suspect was identified as Kierre L. Williams, 43 years of age. One minute later, 5:10, Sgt. Coltin Bebensee and deputy Reid Livermore arrived, assisted in placing the suspect into custody and then immediately started tending to Fr. Gutgsell, and they also started CPR at that time. At 5:19, Fort Calhoun EMS, paramedics arrived at the scene, attempted life-saving measures and departed to the University of Nebraska Medical Center at 5:47, where Fr. Gutgsell later died."

Vander Schaaf said the investigation is still ongoing, but provided a bit of background to Williams.

"He was working in a meat-packing plant in Sioux City, Iowa," he said. "He did have a vehicle... He has criminal history in multiple states. We have information that he has one felony."

Vander Schaaf said his office is still trying to determine how Williams entered the community and some of his intentions that ultimately led him to the rectory.

Robinson and Vander Schaaf indicated Williams was tested for possible substance use, though results were pending at the time of the conference.

Robinson, a Fort Calhoun native, said he believed Fort Calhoun is a safe city, regardless of the two homicides that have occurred in 2023.

"We have extremely low crime rate, and these two homicides in the last four months should not define what that community is," Robinson said. "We ask that the public be vigilant, watchful and take care of themselves. Why did this happen? We don't know. But it's still a safe place to live."

#3-Published in the Pilot-Tribune December 19, 2023

Fr. Stephen Gutgsell, age 65 of Fort Calhoun, Neb.

Born: March 20, 1958, Kansas City, Mo.

Died: Dec. 10, 2023, Omaha, Neb.

Stephen Gutgsell was born in Kansas City, Mo. His family moved to Omaha in mid-August 1961. He attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Holy Name High School. He graduated from St. Thomas College (St. Paul, Minn.) and completed preparation for ordination to the Catholic priesthood on June 2, 1984. After assignments in Omaha and rural parishes, he served as parish administrator at Fort Calhoun from 2012.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Josephine and Lee Gutgsell. He is survived by Fr. Michael, Patricia Adler, James, Thomas, Dominic, Mary Ann Guynan, Mary Therese Hupf, Marie Pfau, Mary P. Andersen and many nieces and nephews.

VISITATION AND ROSARY SERVICE: 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 with Rosary service at 7:00 p.m., all at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, Fort Calhoun, Neb.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 11:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at St. Cecilia’s Cathedral, Omaha, Neb.

INTERMENT: Calvary Cemetery. No flowers, please.

Memorials Suggested to: Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital or St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, Fort Calhoun, Neb.

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home — Fort Calhoun, NE 68023, 402-468-5678 www.sieverssprickfuneralhome.com

#4-Posted Tuesday, December 19, 2023 Pilot-Tribune

By Cheyenne Alexis - features@enterprisepub.com

Fr. Stephen Gutgsell laid to rest in Omaha St. John the Baptist Catholic Church holds service Sunday evening

Parishioners and community members said their farewells to the late Fr. Stephen Gutgsell on Sunday during a service at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.

Gutgsell, 65, died Dec. 10 from injuries sustained during an attack at the rectory near the Fort Calhoun church. His funeral was held Monday at St. Cecilia's Church in Omaha.

Gutgsell began serving as a parish administrator at St. John the Baptist in 2012.

Mike Conrad, a longtime St. John's parishioner, worked with Gutgsell on the parish council and during Knights of Columbus events. Gutgsell also played a big role in Conrad's son, Seth's, spiritual journey.

"Father was a very spiritual man," Conrad said. "And very knowledgable. The man, he knew our faith up and down, left and right, like the back of his hand. I always said, 'If I ever get into a Catholic trivia competition, I want him on my team.'"

The Cradle of Christianity event in 2018— when the Knights of Columbus helped raise funds to rebuild homes in Karamles, Iraq — is one of many fond memories Conrad has of Gutgsell.

"We had our first meeting, and we were trying to come up with a theme for the event, and he came up with 'Cradle of Christianity,' and we all looked at each other and said, 'That's perfect,'" Conrad said. "At the end of that meeting, he turned to look at me and said, 'Michael, I think we're on to something big here,' and it ended up being one of the biggest events the state Knights of Columbus had ever seen."

Gutgsell was also instrumental in Conrad's family's personal life and faith.

"As my father-in-law was passing... the hospital visits, he came in and did a Viaticum, which is basically a final blessing, last rites. And my father got his last Communion from Father. The ceremony that he led was so beautiful and so reverent. It really helped the family through.”

Conrad would describe Gutgsell as a very personable individual.

"That was one of Father's strengths — he was able to work with people, especially in hard times," he said. "When people were struggling with an illness or facing their last days on Earth, Father was so good about administering to them and giving them a peace of mind and reassuring them they're going to be OK. And I witnessed it first hand with my father-in-law."

Conrad said Gutgsell will be missed by all those that worshipped with him at the church and the Fort Calhoun community as a whole.

"He was a man first, but when he put his collar on, he really represented his faith well," Conrad said.

"What happened to him should not have happened to anybody. Father would be pleased to know that so many people are praying for him. He always said, 'Even though they're not here physically anymore, the best thing we can do is still pray for them every day.'"

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave #262180212