RICHARD WOLBACH

Class of 1942
​Inducted in 2018

Msgr. Wolbach was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 2018.

After graduation, Richard enlisted in the Marines in 1943 and fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima, the first native Japanese soil invaded by Americans in World War II. 

After the war, Msgr. Wolbach attended St. Benedict in Atchison, Kan., St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. and St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.  His parish assignments included St. Adalbert, St. Phillip Neri, St. Stanislaus, Holy Cross, Ss. Peter and Paul and Our Lady of Lourdes, all in Omaha; plus Immaculate Conception in Boys Town, St. Peter in Clarks, St. Peter in Fullerton, St. John in Pender and St. Stanislaus in Duncan.  Msgr. Wolbach also has served as chaplain at Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha.   In his 50 years of ministry, Msgr. Wolbach has served 11 parishes in the Archdiocese of Omaha and two hospitals as chaplain.

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the National Conference of Catholic VA Chaplains. He belongs to the Fourth Marine Division Association, Greater Omaha Marine Corps League VFW, American Legion and the 40&8 Omaha Hospital Chaplain Association.

He was awarded the title monsignor in 1997 through the Military Archdiocese, won the Hands and Heart Omaha VA Award and was awarded the VA award for excellence.

Before retiring in 2011, Msgr. Wolbach was the chief chaplain at the VA Medical Center in Omaha.