By his own account, Father Joseph N. Henseler was a contented pastor in Alma Center and not seeking to move on. So he was a little surprised to receive a phone call from Father Brady. Looking forward to his own retirement, Fr. Brady told Fr. Henseler, "They need you here, Joe."

Fr. Brady felt that, in the wake of the closing of St. Mary’s school, the church needed to get a strong religious education program started and to also improve the liturgical music program, according to Fr. Henseler.

The invitation was eagerly accepted. Fr. Henseler was well known for espousing that a good CCD program could beat a Catholic School program in passing on the faith and had set a program up at Alma Center.

Seldom has a priest had the impact Fr. Henseler had on the St. Mary’s community. The longest pastorate in our history, stretched over 26 years.

Fr. Henseler was born on October 24, 1927 in Marshfield, Wisconsin to Joseph and Magdalena Henseler. He grew up near Marshfield where his family operated a cheese factory. He attended Saint Mary’s Grade School in Bakerville, WI.

There was little chance that Fr. Henseler was going to be anything other than a priest. Long-time parishioner Tillie Burr knew his parents and babysat him as a toddler. She recalls tales of Magdelena Henseler plunking her little son down on a counter-top and telling him "Joe, you’re going to be a priest."

He essentially left home at age 14 to attend the Pontifical College of Josephinim in Columbus Ohio. There he completed high school, College Philosophy and Theology studies, and was ordained on June 7, 1952 by Archbishop Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, the Holy Father’s Apostolic Delegate to the United States.

First assigned to Saint Stanislaus Parish in Stevens Point, the following year he was sent to Wausau as an assistant at Saint Mary Parish and teacher at Newman High School. In 1959 he was appointed as assistant at St Lawrence Parish and instructor at Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids. The following year he was assigned to St. Therese Parish in Schofield. He remained until 1968, then was reassigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Alma Center.

Fr. Henseler succeeded Fr. Brady on June 26, 1974. His presence was markedly different from Fr. Brady’s.

"I wasn’t the smooth Irishman," Fr. Henseler joked. "I’m German. I’m bullheaded and stubborn."

Fr. Henseler’s first task was to assemble and advertise a 12-grade religious education program only three weeks before the start of the school year. He put together a new program that emphasized traditional

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beliefs and moral teachings. When it came time to register the students, the response was overwhelming. The turnout was nearly 100%, or 250 grade and middle school children and another 120 in high school.

"We were booked," he said. "We couldn’t believe it. We had to scramble to find teachers."

Fr. Henseler made it clear to parents and students alike that his religious education program was to be taken seriously.

"It’s not going to be a baby-sitting service," he told the congregation, "We mean business."

"It was Fr. Henseler’s good leadership to turn it around," credited Vern Mayer for the invigorated CCD.

Fr. Henseler was unapologetically proud of the religious education program. He also enjoyed his reputation for being a gruff and a strict disciplinarian. (The editor of this document once came into his Junior CCD class to find a 16-year-old miscreant on his knees with his nose against the blackboard.) But that was often his public side. In private he could be the most caring, generous and sociable of individuals.

Dr. Guy Beck joined the staff as pastoral assistant and director of religious education, on July 1, 1976.

"We’ve got a good solid community to begin with," Beck told the "Times Review." "The people want their children instructed in the faith and they show their concern. That’s why this program works."

Thirty years on, St. Mary’s CCD program is still considered one of the most outstanding in the diocese, with a remarkable level of participation, discipline and continuity of staff. Many CCD teachers have been with the program 20 plus years, led by Phyllis Carney who taught that very first year and is still teaching in 2004.

The parish’s chronic cash flow problems turned around during these years. This allowed a number of physical improvements without incurring large debt, and even putting money away for the future. Fr. Henseler had a reputation for knowing how to handle finances and investments.

During the 1975-76 CCD year, the school building was extensively remodeled to match the needs of the CCD program. The brick of the church and rectory were tuck-pointed at a cost of $18,400 in 1976. An automatic bell ringing system was installed in the summer of 1977, the $5,300 cost donated by the Parish Council of Catholic Women. Another $4,000 was spent on a new garage.

By far the largest project was the 1979 addition to the front of the church, intended to make the building more accessible for the elderly and handicapped. It greatly altered the appearance of the building. The entry area or vestibule was enlarged and an elevator installed for those who could not climb the steps. A carport was built for all-weather drop-off and pickup at the church doors. Costs were about $130,000. Bathrooms were also updated and the parking lot enlarged twice.

The need to improve music in the parish was not forgotten either. A new organ, baby grand piano and electric piano were acquired to support an active choir and cantor program. Many visiting priests have noted with appreciation the congregation’s willingness to sing out.

During this time, the former convent served as a residence for the directors of religious education.

Beck left at the end of the 1980 CCD year. For a short while, CCD was "co-coordinated" by Father George Shipman and Harold McKinney from July to October of that year, when the former left. McKinney continued on and became know in the community for hosting the "A Catholic Speaks Out," weekly program on the local radio station. He left, to enter a seminary, in August of 1982. At that time a parishioner, Rita Kuchenbecker, was hired to be Director of Religious Education and eventually pastoral assistant as well.

Kuchenbecker and Fr. Henseler may have been the best pairing in St. Mary’s 125 years. Rita’s gentle approach was the perfect foil to Henseler’s sterner image. Together and singularly they carried out the church’s work, particularly ministering to nursing home residents, hospitalized Catholics and the homebound. With Ken Kingsbury, they organized a "Pre-Cana" marriage preparation program for engaged couples in 1986.

During his long tenure in Neillsville, Fr. Henseler also served as Dean of the Thorp Deanery as well as chaplain to the local Council 150 of the Knights of Columbus and one term as State Chaplain for the Knights. In 1995, he was also appointed pastor of Saint Stephen’s Parish in Chili. That parish closed in 1997, though its cemetery remains operational.

St. Mary’s celebrated its centennial on September 24, 1978. Over 1,000 attended a Mass with Bishop Freking, concelebrated by many past pastors: Fathers Pritzl, Leketas, Kelly, Nelson and Brady. Fr. Beigler was unable to attend due to ecclesiastical duties.

The only event to compare with the centennial was Fr. Henseler’s retirement Mass, July 9, 2000. In temperatures well over 90 degrees, friends and congregants packed the church and gave him a standing ovation as he walked down the aisle as pastor of St. Mary’s one last time. In appreciation, the outgoing pastor was presented with a brand new car, purchased with parishioner donations, as a retirement gift.

Fr. Henseler did not disappear from the scene. He continued to live in Neillsville and was a frequent "visiting" priest when needed, but maintained a policy of staying out of local church politics. He took daily walks about the community, speaking genially with acquaintances and neighbors.

Fr. Henseler died on August 18, 2003, two weeks after sustaining a heart attack, and was buried in Marshfield among a grouping of his fellow priests. Thirty-five priests and a church full of parishioners, family and friends attended his funeral at St. Mary’s.