REV. NERI GRESKOVIAK OSM
Rev. Neri Greskoviak OFM, died Sunday, August 15, 2021, at St. John the Baptist Friary in Cincinnati. Born on March 23, 1936, in Minonk, Illinois, Richard Greskoviak was one of four children of Proxida (Nee: Smolinski) and Joseph Greskoviak. He attended St. Patrick Parish elementary school and then graduated from St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati before entering the novitiate on August 15, 1954, and receiving the religious name “Neri.”
Professing his first vows in 1955, he entered Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan, where he made his solemn vows in 1958. Then, after theology studies, Neri was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1963, at St. Leonard College in Centerville, Ohio. Classmate Dennet Jung remembers Fr. Neri most vividly working outdoors with an axe in his hand, a vivid and sarcastic sense of humor and a loud laugh in his belly. These passions continued throughout Fr. Neri’s life.
Fr. Neri spent his entire ministerial life as a parish pastor. His first assignment was in New Mexico. He would go on to serve as associate pastor or pastor at parishes in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He spent his last 33 years at Illinois parishes. In 2014, he semi-retired at St. Mary’s Friary’s in Bloomington, serving as Parochial Vicar. In 2016, he fully retired to the Holy Family Friary in Oldenburg, helping in the parish and surrounding area as able and needed.
Parishioners loved Fr. Neri’s down-to-earth common touch. He was creative and free-spirited in his preaching using symbols and even stunts to get his message across. Fr. Ric Schneider reflected that parishioners also fondly and patiently remember, with a smile, some of Fr. Neri’s homilies that went on (and on) before finally finding a place to land.
In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his sister Roselyn Renner and brothers Jerome and Arthur Greskoviak. He is survived by his sisters-in-law; friar classmate Dennet Jung and close friend Mary Ellen Gillman, OSF.
A prayer service, sharing of stories and visitation will begin 9 a.m. Wednesday, August 18, at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg. Funeral services follow at 10 a.m. with burial in the church cemetery.