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Archbishop Gerald T. Bergan of Omaha was celebrant of the pontifical requiem high Mass for Rev. Joseph Drbal, 89, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Howells at 10:30 a. m., Tuesday, Dec. 10. Rev. Drbal was pastor of St. John’s for 30 years. Office for the dead service was held at 10 a. m., at the church where the body lay in state from 1 p. m., Monday.

Archbishop Bergan was assisted by Msgr. H. J. Kaup, V. F., Rev. Anthony Pluhacek, Rev. B. Krause, Rev. Leo Krekemeier, Rev. Vaclav Kovar, Rt. Rev. Msgr. D. E. Sheehan and Very Rev. Msgr. E. F. McCaslin. Rev. C. C. Kubesh delivered the sermon and eulogy.

Other attending clergy served as pallbearers. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Rev. Drbal died Dec. 7 at a hospital in West Point. He had been a resident at St. Joseph’s Rest Home in West Point since he retired from parish work in 1952.

Joseph Drbal, son of Frank and Anna Prasil Drbal, was born April 18, 1874, in Osek, Moravia. He was ordained into the priesthood July 20, 1899, in Linec, Austria. He came to Nebraska in 1904 and his first assignment was at Greeley. His first parish in Colfax County was Holy Trinity at Heun. From there he went to St. Wenceslaus Church in Dodge. He went to St. John’s in Howells in 1920 and served there until his retirement in 1952.

Rev. Drbal was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Forrestors and Catholic Workman. Representatives from each group attended the service in a body.

Prucha Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.