Early life Clarence Issenmann was born on May 30, 1907, in
Hamilton,
Ohio, the only child of Innocent J. Issenmann (a grocer) and Amelia L. (née Stricker) Issenmann. Clarence Issenmann worked as
delivery boy and
meat cutter for his father as young man. He attended St. Ann's School and then
Hamilton Catholic High School, both in Hamilton. After graduating from high school, Issenmann entered
St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. He then returned to Cincinnati to study at
St. Gregory's and
Mount St. Mary of the West seminaries.
Priesthood Issenmann was
ordained to the
priesthood for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by Archbishop
John McNicholas on June 29, 1932, in the chapel of Mt. St. Mary's Norwood campus. After his ordination, Issenmann continued his studies at the
University of Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland, obtaining his Licentiate of Philosophy. He then entered the
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Receiving a
Doctor of Theology degree. After returning to the United States, Issenmann entered
Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where he received a Doctor of Journalism degree. While in Denver, Issenmann also worked on the staff of the
Denver Register. In 1938, Issenmann was appointed editor of the archdiocesan
newspaper, the
Catholic Telegraph Register. He was named as a professor of theology in 1942 at Mt. St. Mary Seminary. The Vatican elevated Issenmann to the rank of
monsignor in 1943. He was named
chancellor and
vicar general in 1945. During his tenure in
Columbus, Issenmann established the Diocesan Development Fund so as to supply for the expansion of the diocese, which added eight
parishes and six high schools under Issenmann. He also found a new building to house
diocesan offices, and offered a televised
mass every week. Attending the
Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965, he also served as the assistant episcopal chair of
lay organizations for the
National Catholic Welfare Conference. He was installed on February 2, 1965, at
St. John's Cathedral in Cleveland. Issenmann automatically succeeded Bishop
Edward Hoban as the seventh bishop of Cleveland on September 22, 1966.
Retirement and legacy After suffering several
strokes, Issenmann requested early retirement from the pope. His resignation as bishop of Cleveland was accepted by Paul VI on June 5, 1974. After his retirement, Issenmann continued to live in Cleveland. Clarence Issenmann died in Cleveland on July 27, 1982, at age 75. He was interred in the Resurrection
Chapel in St. John's Cathedral. == References ==