Br. Christopher Neuman, OFM, 90, passed away Oct. 25 at St. Mary’s Nursing Home, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday on Oct. 20.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Br. Chris made simple vows on June 22, 1957, and professed solemn vows on June 22, 1960. Over the years, Br. Chris was assigned to St. Anthony of Padua in St. Louis from 1960 to 1963. He went on to minister as a cook at Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly, Nebraska, from 1963 to 1969. He spent the following year as a student at George Williams College while residing at St. Paschal Friary in Oakbrook, Illinois.
From 1970 to 1996, Br. Chris was assigned to St. Peter in the Loop in Chicago, where he engaged in variety of ministries, including social work and ministry to people with AIDS. In addition, Br. Chris was a student at Loyola University from 1970 to 1975.
He was assigned to San Damiano Friary in Cicero, Illinois, from 1996 to 2018, where he continued his ministry in social work and ministry to people with AIDS. Br. Chris served as vicar from 1996 to 1999, and guardian from 1999 to 2002. From 1996 to 2002, he also served the liaison for residents of St. Mary’s Home for the Aged, as Michigan City Cottage director, and, as a semi-retired friar, served as guardian from 2011 to 2014, and again from 2015 to 2017. He retired to St. Gratian Friary in Countryside, Illinois, in 2018.
Br. Chris is survived by family members, friends and friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.