MilCatHerald: ‘Fr. Vic’ remembered as kind-hearted, caring

Fr. Victor Capriolo, moderator of the in solidum team at Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac, would often ride past John Buechel’s home near the St. Peter site in St. Peter, and Buechel would wave at and “harrass” the priest.

Tuesday, Aug. 21 was no different.

“I always tell him, ‘Come on, kick it in gear,’” Beuchel recounted, “and he always says, ‘Yeah, well it’s easier going down the hill than coming up.’”

But Fr. “Vic” never came by Wednesday night at his usual time of about 6:30 or 6:45 p.m. An ambulance’s sirens screamed past Buechel’s house that night.

He later learned the sirens related to a crash involving the 67-year-old priest who, according to a press release from the Fond du Lac Sheriff’s Department, was riding his bike east on the Prairie Trail, attempting to cross U.S. Highway 151 where it intersects with County Road WH when he was struck by a southbound car driven by a 74-year-old Fond du Lac woman. The release said he died from injuries sustained in the crash.

When Buechel heard about Fr. Capriolo Wednesday morning, he was shocked. With tears in his eyes, he recalled, “Yeah, I didn’t see Fr. Vic go home last night,” adding he’ll miss that friendly bantering with the priest. “He liked to dish it out, but he also could take it,” he told your Catholic Herald after the 5 p.m. prayer service held at St. Peter on Thursday, Aug. 24.

Fr. Ryan Pruess, newly ordained and the newest member of the Holy Family in solidum team, presided in the prayer service organized by the team members including Fr. Robert Stiefvater and Missionary Fraternity of Mary Fr. Maximo Lacan, who led a Spanish service at another Holy Family site that night.
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“Fr. Vic reached out to each one of us in this room and touched our hearts in ways that he never even thought possible,” Fr. Pruess said to about 250 to 275 people sitting shoulder to shoulder in the pews, and lining the church’s back walls.

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The funeral was yesterday, and was broadcast on the radio.  Please remember him in your prayers.