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Rocky Mount – Rev. Frank John Stangl, S.T.D., 79, died Saturday, February 2, 2008, after a brief illness. Fr. Stangl was born in St. Louis, Missouri on May 16, 1928 to the late Frank J. Stangl Sr. and Stella Stangl. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in St. Louis as well as the archdiocesan Latin School. He began his studies as a seminarian at St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Kendrick Seminary and was sent to Rome to complete his theological studies and formation for the priesthood. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 1953, at the North American College in Rome, Italy and served as a priest for 54 years. Incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, Fr. Stangl served his diocese in a wide range of ministries. He served as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter Catholic Church in Jefferson City, Our Lady of Lourdes in Columbia, and the Newman Center at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He also served his diocese as the first editor of his diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Missourian, and as Chaplain at Fulton State Hospital in Fulton and at St. Jude Thaddeus in Mokane.

He received his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1962 and wrote his dissertation on Cardinal John Newman. For 22 years he taught courses on the New Testament at the University of Missouri.

After sabbatical studies in Munich, Germany, Fr. Stangl served American troops at more than a half-dozen military bases in Germany for nearly 11 years. Upon his return to the United States, he settled in North Carolina and served as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Rocky Mount and St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill. Afterwards, he continued to serve as Sacramental Minister to the Catholic parishes of St. Peter the Fisherman in Oriental, St. Joan of Arc in Plymouth, and Holy Trinity in Williamston.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 7, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 331 Hammond Street, Rocky Mount. A Vigil service and rosary will take place at 8:00 p.m. led by Rev. Tim Meares. A Funeral Mass will take place on Friday, February 8, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh, will be the principal celebrant. Burial will take place later on Friday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Cemetery in Newton Grove conducted by Rev. Philip Tighe.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Walter Stangl. Surviving are his sister, Helen Spooner and husband James of Albuquerque, NM; nephew Mark Stangl of St. Louis, niece Christine Robinson and husband Gordon of St. Louis, niece Jeanine Sansone and husband Rick of St. Louis, nephew Carl Spooner of Albuquerque, NM, and niece Rebecca Spooner of Albuquerque, NM; grandnieces Becca Stangl, Susan Stangl, and Emily Stangl of St. Louis and Faith Spooner of Albuquerque, and grandnephews David Robinson and Benjamin Sansone of St. Louis.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 331 Hammond Street, Rocky Mount, NC 28504-5824.

Arrangements by Stokes Mortuary in Rocky Mount.