The Rev. Michael A. Bablitch, 88, a Stevens Point man who became a Catholic priest, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000, at Portage County Health Care Center.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul Catholic Church in Plainfield. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Stevens Point.
Visitation will be at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:30 a.m. Thursday until the services.
Gasperic Funeral Home of Plainfield and Boston Funeral Home of Stevens Point assisted the family with arrangements.
Father Bablitch was born Nov.5, 1911, in Stevens Point, a son of the late Mike and Martha M. (Koshollek) Bablitch. He attended Jefferson and St. Joseph schools and was a Stevens Point Daily Journal carrier at ages 12 and 13.
He attended St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary for six years and continued his college and theological studies at St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota for six years.
On May 22, 1937, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Paul P. Rhode at Green Bay and celebrated his first Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, his home parish, on Sunday, May 23.
Father Bablitch served at parish churches in Green Bay, Neenah, Manitowoc, Askeaton, Gillett, Waupaca and Plainfield. He also served as chaplain at hospitals in Antigo and New London.
Upon official retirement, he continued his ministry through pastoral assistance in temporary vacancies.
His last ministry included 18 years of organizing summer services on Saturdays and Sundays at various campsites in Waushara County for thousands of tourists and vacationers of all faiths from Wisconsin and Illinois.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
