Born in a log cabin between St. Joe and Marytown, Wisconsin, Cyprian was baptized at St. Joe and attended the parochial school at Mt. Calvary.

After finishing school, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. Conversations with Justin Hausmann set him on the path to joining the Capuchin Order. He attended St. Lawrence College before entering the novitiate.

Cyprian was the first priest to be ordained at the Mt. Calvary Parish. Following ordination, he spent eleven years in Detroit helping in parishes, hearing confessions, directing the local Third Order, and serving as Director of the Third Order Commissariate.

For the next 20 years he was pastor, first at Yonkers and then at St. Joseph's in Appleton. As a preacher, his directness, sincerity, relevance and powerful voice left an impression. He also spent four years as assistant director of the western Mission Band.

Cyprian served six terms on the Provincial Council and two terms as Provincial Minister. He was the last Provincial Minister prior to the division of the Province, and the first afterward.

As a leader he underscored the centrality of community life: common altar, common table, common recreation. Under his leadership, St. Francis Brothers' School was approved and plans for Queen of Angels Retreat Center and St. Anthony Parish in Saginaw were initiated. Cyprian was the first pastor of St. Anthony's, and the first local minister at Queen of Angels. He also supervised the building of the friary at Garrison.

At age 63, Cyprian was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and eventually was confined to a wheelchair. The need for assisted living brought him first to St. Benedict's and then to Crown Point where this giant of the Province passed to his eternal reward. He is buried at Huntington.