Honorary citizen and pastor: Pastor Zwickl dies at the age of 87

Honorary citizen and pastor: Pastor Zwickl dies at the age of 87

It is a sad loss for the community: Pastor i. R. Josef Zwickl died on June 11, 2023 at the age of 87. The popular pastor was a central figure in the parish community “Saint Jakobus the Elder in the Upper Werntal, Poppenhausen” for many years and left traces there that will continue to have an impact for a long time. Franconian day reports that Zwickl was born in Oroszvár, Hungary, in 1938 and was expelled to Germany with his family in 1946. After his schooling at the high school for expellees in Königstein im Taunus, he studied theology in various cities, including Königstein, Innsbruck and Würzburg.

On June 29, 1965, Zwickl was ordained a priest in Bad Kissingen by Bishop Josef Stangl. His varied career initially took him as a chaplain to Großwallstadt, Fehlsbach and Aschaffenburg-Sankt Michael. In 1970 he took over the curateship in Aura im Sinngrund and from 1971 to 1975 he worked as a deanery youth pastor in the Gemünden deanery. Main post highlights that Zwickl worked in Aschaffenburg from 1977 and took over the parishes of Poppenhausen and Pfersdorf in 1993. In 2005, the municipality of Poppenhausen awarded Zwickl the silver citizen's pin in recognition of his services.

Commitment and honors

During his time in office, Zwickl was fortunate to bring about numerous positive changes in the parish. Under his leadership, the parish church in Poppenhausen was renovated on the inside and the church in Kützberg on the outside in 2008. “My path in Poppenhausen was characterized by work and joy,” said Zwickl, who left a lasting impression in the hearts of many people not only as a pastor but also as a person.

Zwickl's official farewell took place in a solemn service in the Poppenhausen Church, with representatives from politics, the deanery and numerous believers present to give him a proper escort. Mayor Reinhold Stahl praised Zwickl's tireless commitment to the community and his valuable contact with people with warm words. After the service, the community came together for a standing reception in the parish hall, where music clubs, choirs and parishioners celebrated Zwickl's work.

Retirement and burdensome legacy

In January 2023, Pastor Zwickl retired after more than 20 years in Poppenhausen. From the beginning, Zwickl was active and committed, and even after his official retirement, he continued to provide pastoral care in various parish communities until 2023. Most recently he lived in Feucht while he continued his pastoral work in the region.

The loss of Pastor Zwickl leaves a large gap in the community, which will remember his actions and his many years of leadership. The funeral will be announced later. For many he remains an unforgettable person and a true friend of the community.[ Service ELK-WÜ informs that retired clergy are entitled to pension benefits to support them during this phase of life.]