Diocese of Superior WI - BishopAccountability.org

9 Accused in This Diocese

Fr. Thaddeus A. Augustyn

Ordained: 1944
Status: Sued

Arrested in 1966 and pled guilty to public indecency in a bus station. Frequently visited in the Miami archdiocese and worked in various parishes there. Died 8/10/81. Named in a 1992 civil suit against the Superior diocese. One man alleged abuse 1955-61 when he was a minor and Augustyn was assigned to St Joseph's in Shell Lake WI. Diocese said suit was dismissed due to the statute of limitations and no settlement was paid.

Sources:

Fr. Edward F. Beutner

Ordained: 1965
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Placed on leave in 2002 due to allegations. Accused by a man in 11/21/06 civil suit claiming abuse of 4 boys in late 1960s. Per plaintiff, his abuse occurred during an overnight trip to MN; suit filed in that state. Assigned to Cathedral of Christ the King 1966-68 and Holy Assumption Church 1975-78, as well as numerous other churches and colleges. A woman claimed she told Bishop Fliss in 2002 that Beutner had abused her 10 years prior. Beutner died 1/26/08. On Santa Rosa diocese's list 1/12/19. Noted to have been assigned to the Christian Brothers' Mont LaSalle in Napa in 1987. Also resided with the Christian Brothers in Concord CA, Oakland diocese, 1982-86.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Thomas A. Conway

Donate Photo

Order: CPPS
Ordained: 1957
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Placed on leave in 6/02 after the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph received a complaint from a woman who accused him of inappropriate behavior in another state in the 1970s when she was age 14 or 15. Conway was assigned to parishes through the 1970s, until 1979, in the Diocese of Superior, WI. By 1979-80 he was working in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO. Conway died 10/6/10.

Sources:

Kansas City Star 06.18.02
CPPS Missionaries 10.08.10

Fr. Thomas Edward Ericksen

Ordained: 1973
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Accused of molesting three boys in 1983 while assigned to St. Peter's in Winter, WI. Two accusers sued; settled in 1989 for nearly $3M. Removed from priesthood 1988. In 6/10 two men claimed rape. Efforts underway 7/10 to extradite him from MO. Left WI in 1983. Lived in MN, MO and Indonesia. Denied allegations. "Partially confessed" in 2016. Charged 11/16/18 with sexually assaulting altar boys at St. Peter's 1982-83. In 12/18 judge ordered trial. Three new accusers 1/19 alleging abuse late 1970s-early 1980s. Pleaded not guilty 3/19 to four open cases. Convicted. Sentenced in 9/19 to 30 years in prison. Accused of abuse of a boy, age 9, in the hospital in the late 1970s.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Ryan Erickson

Ordained: 2000
Status: Sued

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Accused of abuse of at least one young boy and possession of child porn in about 1992. Identified as a murder suspect in a double homicide in 2002. Died by suicide during investigation in 2004. Special hearing in 2005 found there was probable cause to rule he was probably the murderer. Parents filed two suits (one naming ALL bishops) and a separate wrongful death suit against the diocese. Suit against diocese dismissed in 9/08.

Fr. Irving Frederick Klister

Ordained: 1944
Status: Convicted

Died: 04/19/1997
Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Accused of abuse of a 14-year-old boy in Superior in the early 1950s. Chancellor. Founder of the diocesan newspaper. After allegation, transferred to the Diocese of El Paso. Named in civil suit filed in El Paso in 1995. At some point, he was convicted on child pornography charges. Died 4/19/97. A man from OR filed claim in 2013 in NM alleging abuse by Klister at St Vincent de Paul parish in Maxwell in the early to mid-1980s. Case settled in 4/14. Included on Santa Fe archdiocese list of accused on 9/12/17. On Las Cruces diocese's list 11/8/18. On El Paso's list 1/31/19.

Assignments:

Sources:

Fr. David J. Malsch

Ordained: 1967
Status: Convicted

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Bishop didn't investigate 1984 claims that Malsch molested three boys. Accused in 1991 of molesting a 15-year-old boy with emotional, learning and behavioral issues. Criminal charges 1992. Convicted 1993. Received 5-year suspended sentence; violated parole 1997, sent to prison. Civil suit filed 1995. Sent to Wounded Brothers after release. Indicted 2003 for child porn while at the facility. Reportedly removed from priesthood in 6/05. Pled guilty 2005, sentenced to 9 years federal prison. Released 9/9/11. Per MO Sex Offender Register 12/11, incarcerated in WI. To be released 6/19/19, under commitment in WI. To have intensive supervision and GPS monitoring.

Assignments:

BA.org Assignment Record

Sources:

Fr. Robert M. Urban

Ordained: 1960
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Urban retired in approximately 1997. Assisted parishes in retirement. Placed on leave in 4/10 after a report of "inappropriate conduct" with an unnamed individual who may or may not have been a minor. Urban was accused of paying young men for sex. Diocese waited two weeks to reveal his name. D.A.'s office very slow to investigate. Not complete as of 1/1/11. Deceased, per the diocese's website in 2/21.

Sources:

Fr. Henry V. Willenborg

Order: OFM
Ordained: 1976
Status: Accused

Diocese: Diocese of Superior WI

Accused in 2009 of a 5-year affair in IL with a woman beginning in the early 1980s. Another woman came forward during that time to allege a long relationship with him when she was in high school. Order sent him to Paraclete facility for treatment for 7 months. The first woman gave birth to his son after his return. She received support from the Franciscans over the years, and made the matter public in 10/09 because the 22-year-old son had terminal cancer and she also had cancer. Diocese placed WIllenborg on leave pending investigation. Son died in 12/09. On the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese's list updated 4/1/19. Worked in New Orleans 1988-93.

Our Database of Publicly Accused does not state or imply that individuals facing allegations are guilty of a crime or liable for civil claims. The reports contained in the database are merely allegations. The U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.