Francis Johannes was born in
Mittelstreu,
Bavaria, to Urban and Anna (née Zwierlein) Johannes. He and his family came to the
United States arriving in New York, New York on November 8, 1882, aboard the ship
General Werder, where they settled at
St. Joseph,
Missouri. After graduating from
St. Benedict's College at
Atchison,
Kansas in 1892, he attended
St. Francis Seminary in
Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. He was
ordained to the
priesthood by Bishop
Maurice Francis Burke on January 3, 1897. He then engaged in pastoral work in the
Diocese of St. Joseph,
Missouri. On December 19, 1927, Johannes was appointed
Coadjutor Bishop of
Leavenworth,
Kansas and
Titular Bishop of
Thasus by
Pope Pius XI. He received his
episcopal consecration on May 1, 1928, from Bishop
Francis Gilfillan, with Bishops
Francis Joseph Tief and
Augustus John Schwertner serving as
co-consecrators. Following the death of
John Chamberlain Ward, he succeeded him as the fourth
Bishop of Leavenworth. He remained as bishop for the next seven years, until his death at age 63. ==References==