Leo C. Arkfeld, S.V.D., joined the Divine Word Missionaries at the age of 20 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1943. He was immediately stationed to New Guinea but, for a brief period, was relocated to Australia during the WW-2. There, he became a skilled and well respected aviator. Upon resuming his ministry in New Guinea, he built numerous private airstrips along shore lines and hillsides; thus permitting access to locales which allowed for him to carry out his ministry. He was credited with many emergency flights, in treacherous jungle and mountain areas, which saved many lives. He was ordained Titular Bishop of Bucellus (Bulgaria, Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Vicar Apostolic of Central New Guinea in 1948. He became the first Bishop of Wewak in 1966 and was Archbishop of Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 1975-87. His ministry in New Guinea spanned 54 years.
Cenotaph located at St. Mary's Cemetery in Panama, Iowa.
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Per FindAGrave visitor, Vince Ohlinger:
"There is a tombstone at St Marys Cemetery, Panama, Iowa, but Fr. Arkfeld is buried in Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, where he had spent most of his life and where in lived in retirement. I was present at his funeral and burial. His family, in Iowa, then had a tombstone made which was placed near St Mary's Church in Panama, Iowa. The pastor had it moved into the cemetery."
Leo C. Arkfeld, S.V.D., joined the Divine Word Missionaries at the age of 20 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1943. He was immediately stationed to New Guinea but, for a brief period, was relocated to Australia during the WW-2. There, he became a skilled and well respected aviator. Upon resuming his ministry in New Guinea, he built numerous private airstrips along shore lines and hillsides; thus permitting access to locales which allowed for him to carry out his ministry. He was credited with many emergency flights, in treacherous jungle and mountain areas, which saved many lives. He was ordained Titular Bishop of Bucellus (Bulgaria, Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Vicar Apostolic of Central New Guinea in 1948. He became the first Bishop of Wewak in 1966 and was Archbishop of Madang, Papua New Guinea, from 1975-87. His ministry in New Guinea spanned 54 years.
Cenotaph located at St. Mary's Cemetery in Panama, Iowa.
********************************
Per FindAGrave visitor, Vince Ohlinger:
"There is a tombstone at St Marys Cemetery, Panama, Iowa, but Fr. Arkfeld is buried in Wewak, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, where he had spent most of his life and where in lived in retirement. I was present at his funeral and burial. His family, in Iowa, then had a tombstone made which was placed near St Mary's Church in Panama, Iowa. The pastor had it moved into the cemetery."
Family Members
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Archbishop Leo Clement Arkfeld
1912–1999
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Florence Mary Arkfeld Ohlinger
1914–2006
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Vincent Joseph Arkfeld
1916–2001
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Mary Arkfeld
1918–1918
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Celestine Mary "Sally" Arkfeld Kohles
1920–2007
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Clement George "Clem" Arkfeld
1922–2006
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Rita Mary Arkfeld Kelley
1923–2011
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Lucille Arkfeld
1926–1940
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Sylvia Mary Arkfeld Bissen
1928–2008
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George Michael Arkfeld
1932 – unknown
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