Father Robert "Bob" Rooney, 85, dies at Lincoln

Father Robert “Bob’ Rooney, 85, died April 17, 2022, at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. May 3 at Sacred Heart Church in Greeley. A rosary will precede the Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Father Rooney was born Nov. 20, 1936, to Harry and Virginia Rooney at Greeley. He attended Sacred Heart Grade and High School in Greeley. He studied at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

On May 28, 1963, he was ordained by Bishop John L. Paschang at St. Mary’s Cathedral. In June, he was appointed assistant pastor at St. Patrick’s Parish in Sidney.
He was appointed assistant pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Alliance and as superintendent of St. Agnes Academy on Sept. 1 1964. In July 1970, Father Rooney was appointed superintendent of St. Patrick’s Junior-Senior High School in North Platte. In June 1973, Father Rooney was also appointed pastor of St. John’s Parish in Stapleton and St. Agnes Mission in Arnold. Father Rooney was appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in St. Paul from 1974 until 1980 when he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Sidney. He was appointed co-pastor of St. Leo’s Church in Grand Island in 1988. Father Rooney was appointed diocesan moderator of Central Catholic High School in Grand Island in addition to being pastor of St. Leo’s Church in Grand Island in 1989. He was appointed priest reconciler/counselor for the Project Rachel Project on Aug. 28, 1991. In 1996, Father Rooney was appointed pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Broken Bow; Sacred Heart Church, Ansley, and St. Thomas Church, Mason City. He was also appointed co-director of continuing education for priests. In 2000, Father Rooney was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ord, but retired in 2002 due to injuries suffered from a near-fatal bicycle accident.

He enjoyed teaching, counseling, working as a hospital chaplain and authoring several books of wisdom and encouragement. Father Rooney had a renowned sense of humor, love family, music, outdoor activities, a good meal, all things Irish, the Boston Red Sox and especially popcorn. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Mary Jane Sweet, Pat Rooney, Joe Rooney, Jerry Rooney, Karen Colleran and Jill Rooney. Memorials may be sent to the Madonna Foundation, madonna.org/foundation, and the Diocese of Grand Island, gidiocese.org.