Southern Nebraska Register
Msgr. Adrian Herbek, a retired priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, died Oct. 4. He was 90 and celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ordination June 5.
Msgr. Herbek grew up on a farm near Deweese, the third of five children in the family. His youngest sister is Sister Rosaline Herbek of the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln.
While he went to public school growing up, Msgr. Herbek spent all 50 years of his active priesthood in Catholic education.
In an interview with the Register in 2019, he reflected, “I never intended to be in Catholic schools, but that was the highlight of my 50 years [as an active priest]."
His first priestly assignment was at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Wahoo. Through the course of his career, he taught, coached and directed the marching band. He said he loved working with high school students and enjoyed the 29 years he spent as a superintendent.
Msgr. Herbek was ordained in 1959, by Bishop James V. Casey at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Deweese. After serving in Wahoo, Herbek spent the following three years at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, while it was being constructed.
He then spent 43 years in David City, first as principal of Aquinas High School and then as superintendent, including pastorates of 17 years at St. Francis Parish in Center, and 19 years at St. Mary Parish in David City. In 1991, while serving in David City, Pope John Paul II invested Herbek as a Monsignor.
In 2009, Msgr. Herbek retired to Lincoln, but in 2010, he agreed to take an assignment at Ss. Mary and Joseph Parish in Valparaiso, where he served for a year. He returned to the Bonacum House in Lincoln and retired for a second time, but spent the next eight years filling in as a substitute for other priests.
In 2019, he agreed to fill in at St. Joseph Parish in Friend, and stayed two years, even throughout the pandemic. In June 2021, he retired to Bonacum House for the third and final time.
A funeral Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ Oct. 11 with Emeritus Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz officiating and priests of the Diocese of Lincoln concelebrating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Msgr. Herbek is survived by sisters Mildred Lemke, Mary Ellen Karsting, and Sister Rosaline, M.S.
