A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 28 at St. Bernard Parish in Springfield for Father Donald C. Huebner. Father Huebner, 80, died suddenly at his home in Ludlow Falls on Oct. 24.

A native of Springfield, Father Huebner did his preparatory studies at St. Gregory Seminary and studied theology at Mount St. Mary’s of the West before being ordained a priest on May 29, 1954 by Archbishop Karl J. Alter.

CT FILE PHOTO

Father Donald C. Huebner

He went on to serve on the faculty of Seton High School and as an assistant at Holy Angels Parish in Cincinnati. He also served as assistant pastor at St. Lawrence Parish and as assistant chaplain at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity. He then served as an assistant at Nativity Parish in Cincinnati and Ascension Parish in Dayton. Father Huebner served as pastor of St. Henry Parish in Dayton in 1974 before becoming associate pastor at Our Lady of the Rosary later that year.

From 1975-76 Father Huebner served as a chaplain at the Dayton Mental Health Center. He then served as an associate at St. Charles Parish in Kettering and as a chaplain at Kettering Hospital. In the early 1980s Father Huebner served as pastor of Queen of Martyrs Parish in Dayton, then as an associate at Transfiguration Parish in West Milton.

In 1983 he returned to his hometown of Springfield as pastor of St. Bernard Parish. Father Huebner retired in 2001, but remained very active in ministry, especially with the retired Sisters of the Precious Blood in Salem Heights.

Father Huebner was known for his humility, and in letters to the chancery over the years often expressed his thanks and appreciation for the opportunity to serve the people of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk presided at Father Huebner’s funeral Mass, with Father Dennis Caylor delivering the homily. Interment was in St. Bernard Cemetery.