Father Bill was born November 14, 1929, to the late William and Mary Susan, nee Gallagher, Woestman, in Fort Smith, AR. Fr. Woestman took his First Vows as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate in August 1950 in Godfrey, IL. He was ordained an Oblate priest in Roviano, Rome Italy in July 1956.
Fr. Woestman received various assignments during his priesthood including Scholastic Professor in Pass Christian MS, Pastor in McCook MS, Director and Superior of Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, IL, Central Province Provincial in St. Paul, MN, Director General Executive Secretary at General House Rome Italy, Professor of Canon Law, Ottawa ON Canada, Tribunal Office for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 2021, he had retired and resided at the Benedictine Living Community in Belleville, IL where he resided at the time of his death.
Fr. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law, Joseph Mathews and sisters-in-law Alice Woestman and Patricia Woestman.
Mourning his passing are his two sisters, Sue Mathews and Patricia (Edward) Corich; three brothers, Gene, James, and Richard (Daphne) Woestman; other loving family members and residents and staff at the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine; and nearly 3600 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate around the world.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 442 S. DeMazenod Drive, Belleville, IL 62223. Condolences may be expressed online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows at the National Shrine Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the Church of Our Lady of the Snows at the National Shrine Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL. The Mass will be livestreamed on www.youtube.com/oblatesusa.
Burial will be at the St. Henry’s Oblate Cemetery, Belleville, IL.