BIOGRAPHIES:  Rev. Edmund E. SAVAGEAU, Dobie, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  24 February 2004
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Rev. Edmund E. Savageau, R. C., pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Lords,
at Dobie, rector of the church of that name, and preceptor of the parochial
school, is one of the vital personal influences in the life of the
northeastern part of Barron County. As a pastor of the parish he has
fulfilled the best traditions and ideals of his calling, he is revered by
his own flock, and respected by those not of his faith, and his sermons and
administrations, through God, are a source of real inspiration to higher
living. His scholarship is of a high order and shows not only in his
sermons, but in the success which he has had as an instructor in his
school. Much as he is cherished by the older people and loved by the boys
and girls, however, his greatest work has probably been among the young
men, who in addition to their esteem for him as a pastor and teacher, honor
him for the part he played as a man and chaplain during the World War, and
find in him one who understands all a young man's problems. He is
thoroughly modern in methods, is an enthusiastic community worker, makes of
his church a real community center, is gradually working toward full
recreational and social equipment, and to this end has organized a large
band and glee club, his previous musical experience standing him in
especial stead in this particular line of work. He was born in West Depere,
Brown County, this state, Dec. 21, 1891, son of Severe and Delia (Duaine)
Savageau, then well known residents of that place. He attended the public
and parochial schools of his native place, and with this preparation
entered St. Norbert's College at West Depere, from which he was graduated
with the degree of B. A. in 1907. He made a splendid record and was at once
engaged as an instructor in the same institution, covering mathematics,
gymnastics, etc. He was also placed in charge of the college band in which
he has been greatly interested through all his college days. In 1913 his
eyes began to fail, and he rested for a while. He then entered the St.
Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, and there finished his courses in theology,
etc. He was ordained at Superior, April 12, 1914, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Koudelka. He then became assistant to the saintly and scholarly Rev. S. A.
Leinfelder, D. D., Ph. D., rector of the Church of St. Mary's, at
Rhinelander, Wis. That pastor died Nov. 14, and the assistant took charge
of the parish for two months. On Jan. 8, 1915, he was appointed pastor of
the church at Nabagman, Wis., where in addition to pastoral duties at the
church, he conducted mission services at Blueberry, Winnbejou, South Range,
etc., and at the county workhouse and insane asylum. In 1915 he was
appointed pastor of the Church of St. Joseph at Amery, Wis., with two
missions, one at Georgetown and one at Clear Lake. In July, 1917, he became
pastor of St. Louis Parish at Superior, Wis., under the learned Bishop
Koudelka. From there he offered his services to the United States
government as a chaplain in the Navy. He was assigned to his present
parish, March 15, 1920. Upon entering the naval service he took preliminary
training at Boston. He received an order to join the U. S. S. S. Pueblo,
then at Rio Janiero, South America. This order was revoked in favor of the
battleship Vermont. He travelled the high seas in Pacific and Atlantic
waters with the fleet on an extended cruise. From Mare Island navy yard,
California, he went to his home, arriving there Feb. 16, 1920, and there
received his commission as Lieutenant (J. B.), C. H. C., U. S. N. F. R.
Rev. Savageau comes of a good family of substantial people. The father,
Severe Savageau was born in Canada of French descent, and came to the
United States in 1860, settling near Green Bay, in Brown County, Wis. There
he farmed and worked in the logging woods for many years. His good wife was
a native of Wisconsin. They came to Dobie in March, 1920, to be near their
son. They were the parents of a large family, the members of which have
done well in life. Emanuel, Laura, Clara and Edmund (first) are dead.
David, Odele, Mary, Olive, Severe, Charles and Edmund E. are living.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 336-337, 999-1000.


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