William Menster

Father William J. Menster (February 10, 1913 – April 14, 2007) was a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Menster was best known as the first member of the clergy to visit Antarctica.

Early life Born in Cascade, Iowa, Menster was the son of Joseph and Frances Menster. He attended St. Martin's School in Cascade and Loras College in Dubuque. Menster studied for the priesthood at St. Mary's Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Menster was ordained a priest on June 11, 1938. Menster was then assigned to be the associate pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Waterloo, Iowa.

Following the Second World War, Menster briefly served at Naval Air Station Miami before being assigned to Operation Highjump – Admiral Richard Byrd's fourth expedition to Antarctica – in 1946.

Two members of the expedition went on to enter seminary studies to become priests. Bill Beye was baptized by Menster on Christmas Eve, 1946, aboard the ship – believed to be the first baptism in the Antarctic Circle. He entered the Franciscans in Santa Barbara, California. Thomas Donnelley, who was the altar server for the historic Mass, later entered Maryknoll Seminary.

Menster presented the missal that he used on the expedition to Loras College.

Later years

After returning to the United States in 1947, Menster returned to reserve duty and was assigned to Saint Mary's Church in Corwith, Iowa. He also served as the national chaplain of the AMVETS organization. Menster was assigned to be the pastor of St. Patrick's Church in, Monona, St. Mary's in Waverly, and St. John's in Clarion in 1958. While there, he was the chaplain of the U.S. Naval Training Center in Dubuque. By 1968, Menster had attained the rank of Commander.

Menster was named the pastor of the St. Donatus parish in 1978. After Menster retired from active ministry, he lived in Dubuque. At the time of his death on April 14, 2007, Menster was the oldest living priest in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Legacy Menster Ledge, a geological feature in Antarctica, is named after Menster in his capacity as chaplain, commander, USN of the flagship Mount Olympus.