Father James O'Kane1938-2022
With his distinct voice and laughter, it only took a second for those who knew Father James O’Kane to recognize him by his customary salutation, “Greetings.”
But that voice has gone silent now as the soft-spoken retired priest for the Diocese of Grand Island died Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Mass of Christian Burial was Aug. 25 at St. Leo’s Church with longtime friend and classmate Bishop Emeritus William J. Dendinger officiating. Concelebrating were Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt, Bishop James Golka, Bishop of Colorado Springs and priests of the Diocese of Grand Island, assisted by Deacon William Buchta. Burial was at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island.
A Wood River native, Father O’Kane was born at home to Robert Harold “Curly” and Mildred Blanch (Bridger) O’Kane on March 3, 1938. He attended Wood River Elementary and High School graduating in May 1955.
“Dennis,” as he was called in Wood River, continued his schooling for two years at the University of Nebraska School of Architecture and Engineering. During those summers he worked at Grand Lake Lodge in Colorado.
While he said he originally wanted to design cars, the idea of priesthood kept “popping up.”
In the summer of 1957, he entered Conception Seminary in Conception, Mo. He said the “strength of his vocation continued to build” until he was ordained a priest on May 19, 1965, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island by Bishop John L. Paschang.
He was appointed assistant pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Grand Island, with the additional duties of teaching at Grand Island Central Catholic and Chaplain at the V. A. Hospital. He was named assistant pastor of Loup City and then temporary administrator. During that time, he completed his Master’s Degree in Counseling at Kearney State College in Kearney.
He then was appointed Chaplain of Good Samaritan Hospital and Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Kearney with additional duties of being chaplain of Boys Youth Development Center and teaching at Kearney Catholic High School in Kearney.
He was a founding pastor of St. Leo’s Church in Grand Island, pastor of St. James in Kearney, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ord, and later pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island, as well as associate publisher of the West Nebraska Register. He was then named pastor at St. Agnes in Scottsbluff. At the same time, he was made Vicar General of the Diocese of Grand Island.
A self-proclaimed minimalist with a quiet demeanor, one could always tell when Father O’Kane was absorbing information, with one hand propped under his chin, his index finger resting aside his cheek. Fr. O’Kane retired in 2003, living in Scottsbluff for several years.
He came out of retirement in 2005 when Bishop Dendinger appointed him director of the newly created office of planning and lay ministry for the Diocese of Grand Island.
“My specific task was to teach and train people on the Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest,” also known as S.C.A.P., a procedure still used today.
Father O’Kane was also responsible for coordinating the effort with the Knights of Columbus Council at St. Agnes in Scottsbluff to fundraise for the traveling Mass kits that have been used in the diocese since 2007. These Mass kits have been used at various programs and events throughout the diocese including the Nebraska State Fair that begins this weekend.
He said at the time, “it was apparent to me as well as to those who plan and celebrate these liturgies that the sacred vessels that we used did not always edify the dignity of the Mass.” The Knights were able to purchase three kits for the diocese.
Father O’Kane retired again and moved to Omaha where he continued to help cover for priests of his home diocese as well as the Archdiocese of Omaha.
He enjoyed his morning walks, spending time with his friends, and filling in as celebrant when needed at local parishes. He was proud to say he had been to every continent on the planet, traveling to Antarctica in 2005.
“It’s just been a real blessing,” he said when celebrating his 50th jubilee in 2015 in a combined event with Bishop Emeritus Dendinger. He particularly enjoyed being retired, but still being able to celebrate the sacraments.
“I can just come in and do what I was trained for,” he said, “and I love it.”
Survivors include nieces and nephews and their spouses, Mike (Marlene) Stearns of Lafayette, La., Sharon (Terry) Anson of Milton, Fla., Rosie Stearns of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Dan (Cindy) Stearns of Eagle River Ark., David (Shirley) Stearns of Norfolk, Mark (Lin) Stearns of Lawrence, Kan., Matt (Mandy) Stearns of Valdosta, Ga.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Kay Stearns.
Memorials are suggested to the Diocese of Grand Island Seminarians Fund. Curran Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.