Parish Pastor History

Msgr. Bernard Traudt was the founder of the parish and its first pastor. Although his work as Vicar General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese consumed most of his time, he organized the parish and built the church of St. Joan of Arc in Okauchee. His admiration of Spanish architecture influenced his design to build the church in the Spanish mission stucco design.

Fr. George Miller served the parish from 1925 to 1930, at which time he chose to work in Mantador, North Dakota.

Fr. John Durnin, a genial and gentle man, was pastor from 1930 to 1934. He later served St. Clement’s and Holy Rosary parishes. He retired in November 1968, and died January 12, 1971.

Fr. Mathias Helfin became pastor on June 8, 1934. In 1941 he became full-time director of the Dramatic Movement and directed plays at St. Francis Seminary. He died in May of 1955.

Fr. Lincoln F. Whelan came to St. Joan of Arc in October of 1941. For over 25 years he labored zealously in the parish community which included Nashotah, Delafield, Stone Bank, Okauchee and Mapleton. In 1943 he became resident pastor of St. Joan’s. He died July 26, 1991.

Fr. Joseph Konkel, after teaching at St. Francis Seminary for 25 years, came to St. Joan of Arc parish on June 8, 1967. Extensive repair work took place after 1967, with considerable renovation of the interior of the church. Fr. Konkel died February 4, 1986.

Msgr. John F. Murphy came to St. Joan of Arc in November, 1981, after years of being a pastor at St. Bruno, Dousman and St. Joseph, Wauwatosa. Fr. Murphy saw St. Joan of arc grow rapidly through the 1980’s and 90’s. Fr. Murphy retired from St. Joan of Arc in 1992 but returned to assist with Monday morning mass until his death on October 4, 2005.

Fr. James P. Loehr, after 23 years as teacher and principal of Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, he became pastor at St. Joan of Arc in June, 1992. Fr. Howard Haase and Fr. Ed Carroll assisted at Saturday and Sunday masses. Under Fr. Loehr’s leadership, St. Joan of Arc continued to grow as a parish. Construction of a much needed new church building on Nashotah road began in May of 1997. This was followed by the construction of the Religious Education Center in August, 2001. Fr. Loehr left St. Joan of Arc in 2004 to become the pastor at St. John Newmann in Waukesha, WI.

Fr. Michael D. Strachota, our current pastor, came to St. Joan of Arc in June 2004 with 25 years of experience at Corpus Christi, Our Lady of Laurdes and St. Kilian parishes in the Milwaukee area. Fr. Mike’s passion is best seen in his energy for the celebration of the Mass and other sacramental rituals. Fr. Chuck Beierwalters has given regular assistance with Monday morning mass as well as plays the drums for the weekend masses.