WI BIO - Kenosha Co - WURM, Joseph H.
History of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Lyman, F. Clarke 
Publishing, 1916, vol II, pp 438-439

Rev. Joseph H. WURM, pastor of St. Alphonse Catholic Church at New Munster 
[Kenosha County], Wisconsin, who on 15 July 1915 came to Kenosha County from 
Richfield [Washington County], Wisconsin, was born 20 January 1871 in 
Westphalia, Germany, and is a son of Louis and Barbara (RINSHEID) WURM. The 
mother [Barbara (RINSHEID) WURM] passed away 15 October 1895, and the father 
[Louis WURM] died 05 August 1906, being laid to rest by her side in Holy 
Trinity Cemetery at Milwaukee [Milwaukee County], Wisconsin. They had come 
from Germany to the New World in August 1881, and settled in Milwaukee. They 
[Louis and Barbara (RINSHEID) WURM] had a family of five children: (1) 
Bertha, now the wife of Casper BESTING, a resident of Milwaukee; (2) Anton 
F., a cigar manufacturer living at Mt. Calvary [Fond du Lac County], 
Wisconsin; (3) John H., who died 01 November 1911, at age forty-seven years; 
(4) Mary, residing with her brother Joseph [Joseph H.] and managing his 
household affairs; [and (5) Joseph H., now Rev. Joseph H. WURM, who resides 
with his sister Mary].

Following the arrival of the family in Milwaukee, Rev. Joseph H. WURM pursued 
his education in Holy Trinity parochial school of Milwaukee and in St. 
Francis Seminary at St. Francis [Milwaukee County], Wisconsin. He was 
ordained to the priesthood on 24 June 1893, and appointed assistant priest of 
St. George's Catholic Church at Kenosha, remaining for six months. He 
afterward spent two years as pastor of St. John's church at Muscoda [Grant 
County], Wisconsin, and later was transferred to Richfield [Washington 
County, Wisconsin], being pastor of St. Boniface parish for nineteen years 
and eight months. He did splendid work there and was greatly loved by his 
parishioners. On the expiration of that period he was transferred to New 
Munster, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, 18 July 1915, as pastor of St. Alphonse 
[St. Alphonsus] Catholic Church. He is doing good work in his present 
connection, the parish being well organized, while the different societies of 
the church are making steady progress. A parochial school is now being 
erected at a cost of $12,000, to be completed by 15 September 1916. It is an 
[p 439] up-to-date school building, designed by the firm of White, White, & 
White, architects of Kenosha. The exterior is of red brick, trimmed with cut 
stone, and there is to be a large assembly hall on the second floor and a 
spacious dining room in the basement. The building is planned to accommodate 
two hundred children. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly