Reverend Fr. Patrick J. Fletcher

Fletcher, Rev. Fr. Patrick J., PhD Chaplain, Major, USAF, ret. Born to Eternal Life on January 21, 2017 at the age of 69. Fr. Patrick is survived by his brother Michael (Sandra) Zivicki and their children, sister Maribeth (the late Bob) Waterfield and their children, and brother Richard (Kathryn) Zivicki and their daughter. Dear son of the late Elizabeth (Ervin) Zivicki and John Fletcher. Very dear friend and caretaker Ishmael Avils who wishes to express his heartfelt gratitude to Carmen Gonzales and her husband Jess for all the loving care and help over the last five years. Further survived by many friends and parishioners from all over the world. Patrick was born in Stevens Point, WI and was raised in West Allis, WI. He graduated from Marquette University, went to Europe to study and eventually ended up in Krakow, Poland. He was ordained on June 2, 1985 by Pope St. John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome after having trained in the Sedes Sapientiae priestly formation at Rome's Pontifical Nepomucene College under the direction of Msgr. John McCarthy. Fr. Patrick had the privilege of having known Pope John Paul before His election to the Papacy. He was a Polish-American, who as a layman, spent several years studying in Krakow during the 1970s when Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was the Archbishop. He gave the Cardinal personal tuition sessions in English on Saturday mornings and at one point the Cardinal told him "Patrick, one day you will be a priest, and I myself will ordain you". Fr. Pat at that time had no plans to enter seminary but some years later changed his mind and then the Cardinals prophecy eventually came true in a wonderful and unexpected way. He was incardinated in the Diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico and after three years on the island as Chaplain of the Catholic University in Ponce he was released to become a Catholic Chaplain for the United States Air Force. He served for twenty years in a number of bases in the U.S. and around the world until his retirement as Major and return to Milwaukee in 2009. Fr. Patrick was awarded several times with The Air Force Commendation Medal from the Department of the Air Force. He distinguished himself for his outstanding professional skill, knowledge, leadership, caring and ministry, acute sensitivity and swift response to the religious needs. He studied twelve languages and spoke fluently in six of them. Fr. Pat loved all the fine arts, traveling, reading, walking his little dog Piotrus, talking to people, and above all his priesthood. Visitation will be held from 9-10:45am at St. Anthony Church (1711 S 9th Street) on Saturday January 28, 2017. A mass of Christian Burial will be at 11am. Interment with military honors at St. Adalbert Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to a Catholic Charity of your choice is appreciated. Max A. Sass & Sons South Shore Directors maxsass.com