William Joseph Dendinger | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Grand Island | |
 Dendinger as the 13th Chief ofUS Air Force chaplains | |
| Diocese | Grand Island |
| Appointed | October 14, 2004 |
| Installed | December 13, 2004 |
| Retired | January 14, 2015 |
| Predecessor | Lawrence James McNamara |
| Successor | Joseph G. Hanefeldt |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 29, 1965 by Gerald Thomas Bergan |
| Consecration | December 13, 2004 by Elden Francis Curtiss,Fabian Bruskewitz, andLawrence James McNamara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-05-20)May 20, 1939 (age 86) |
| Education | Immaculate Conception Seminary Aquinas Institute of Theology Creighton University |
| Motto | Justice with mercy |
| Styles of William Joseph Dendinger | |
|---|---|
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| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
William Joseph Dendinger (born May 20, 1939) is an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church.[1][2][3] Appointed byPope John Paul II, he served as bishop of theDiocese of Grand Island in Nebraska from December 13, 2004, until January 14, 2015.
Before his appointment as bishop, Dendinger served 31 years in theUnited States Air Force Chaplain Corps, eventually becoming chief of the Corps.
William Dendinger was born on May 20, 1939, inColeridge, Nebraska, the youngest of the six children of David and Regina Dendinger. Raised on a farm, he was a member of the first graduating class ofMount Michael High School in Elkhorn, Nebraska, in 1957. Dendinger then studied at the Immaculate Conception Seminary inConception, Missouri, where he earned aBachelor of Arts inphilosophy in 1961.[4] Dendinger then entered theAquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa, earning hisMaster of Theology degree in 1964.[4]
On May 29, 1965, Dendinger was ordained by ArchbishopGerald Bergan to thepriesthood for theArchdiocese of Omaha.[4] After his ordination, Dendinger taught atSt. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin, Nebraska. He obtained hisMaster of Science in counseling degree fromCreighton University in 1969.[4]
In 1970, Dendinger was commissioned into theUnited States Air Force Chaplain Corps. After four men from Elgin died during theVietnam War, he had decided to become a military chaplain.[5] During his time in the Chaplain Corps, Dendinger was assigned as base chaplain atMaxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama,Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Japan,Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea,Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, California andHahn Air Base inWest Germany.[6]
In 1974, Dendinger was appointed cadet wing chaplain at theU.S. Air Force Academy, serving there for four years.[6] He also served on the chaplain resource board for the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Service Institute at Maxwell AFB from 1982 to 1985. In 1995, Dendinger was appointed deputy chief of the Chaplain Corps, stationed in Washington, D.C. In 1997, he became as chief of the Chaplain Corps in Washington.[6] Dendinger retired from the Air Force in 2001 as atwo-star general. His first civilian posting was aspastor of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish inOmaha.[4]
On October 14, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed Dendinger as bishop of Grand Island. He was consecrated atSt. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island, Nebraska, on December 13, 2004, by ArchbishopElden Curtiss. BishopsFabian Bruskewitz and Lawrence McNamara served asco-consecrators.[7][4]
On January 14, 2015,Pope Francis accepted Dendinger's letter of resignation as bishop of Grand Island and appointed MonsignorJoseph G. Hanefeldt as his replacement.[6][4] After retirement, Dendinger celebrated masses in diocese churches for priests on vacation.[5]
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| Badge | Air Force Christian Chaplain Badge | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Row | Air Force Distinguished Service Medal | ||
| 2nd Row | Legion of Merit with one bronzeoak leaf cluster | Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters | Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster |
| 3rd Row | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters | National Defense Service Medal with one bronzeservice star | Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Short |
| 4th Row | Air Force Overseas Ribbon - Long with oak leaf cluster | Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters | Air Force Training Ribbon |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Grand Island 2004–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Chaplains of the United States Air Force 1995–1997 | Succeeded by |
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| Education | ||
