![]() The incidents occurred while Dempsey was a priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse and St. Some of the assaults happened in the boys' home when Dempsey visited them, the complaint said. The five men, who were identified only by their initials in the criminal complaint filed Wednesday, said Dempsey touched them indecently and simulated sex acts on them after he had invited them to stay overnight so they could serve Mass as altar boys the next morning. Although the suit later was dismissed, Heintz notified La Crosse police in 1995 of the incident, which led to contact with four other men who said they were sexually assaulted by Dempsey when they were teens in the 1960s. ![]() It was Heintz who brought the issue into the open when he filed a civil lawsuit in La Crosse County Circuit Court in 1993. "Seeing him and hearing the judge speak brought back the pain and hurt Father Dempsey caused me," Heintz said after the court hearing. In the front row, tears welled up in the eyes of one of his victims, 43-year-old Paul Heintz. "I want to apologize to those individuals identified in the complaint," the retired priest said, reciting their first names in a soft but clear voice, "for my having taken indecent liberties with them. ![]() Wearing a tan sweater and black clerical collar, Dempsey stood stooped over at a podium in a courtroom and cleared his throat. Dempsey, 78, pleaded guilty to one count of indecent behavior with a child while four other counts were dismissed stemming from incidents involving five boys in 1964, 19, when he was a priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse.Īs part of the plea agreement, Dempsey was required to apologize publicly to his victims, four of whom were in court Wednesday. More than three decades after they were sexually assaulted by their priest, four middle-aged men sat in court Wednesday and heard the words they hope will help them get on with their lives: "I'm sorry."įather Thomas F. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology or the Nature Conservancy appreciated.Priest Apologizes, Enters Guilty Plea Four of His Victims Hear 78-Year-Old Admit Sex Assaults Decades Ago, by Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, įour of His Victims Hear 78-Year-Old Admit Sex Assaults Decades Ago Visitation at Hartson Funeral Home on Thursday, Jfrom 10 am to 11 am. He left this world and went to be with the Lord on June 14, 2023, leaving great memories and inspiration. He was passionate about the natural world and supported several environmental and conservation causes. Gene participated in groups seeking equality and justice for all during times that such activities were unpopular. He lived a life true to his principles and the teachings of Christ. He was an avid birdwatcher and loved his many trips across the Americas, meeting new people and photographing the wildlife. His yearly backyard picnics - with hordes of family, friends and neighbors - were legendary. As with his children, he inspired his grandchildren to love the outdoors and appreciate the flora and fauna and colors of life. ![]() His many trips with them to the Milwaukee zoo will be cherished. He was the best grandfather to Daniel Joerres (Jenna Van Allen), Joseph Daniel Wnukowski (Sonia Ellison), Adam (Kim) Joerres and Mary Katherine "Katie" (Taylor) Whorton. He was a hard worker for the Milwaukee Road and later at Pius XI High School for over 35 years. He was a wonderful father-in-law to Laura Joerres (nee Moldenhauer), Adrian Wnukowski and Richard Bie. Gene loved reading and many of his thousands of books on wildlife and birds have been donated to nature conservancies. He was a loving, caring, guiding father to Eugene Joseph Joerres, Mary Ann Joerres and Roberta Louise Bie and by example instilled in them a love for the outdoors, empathy and generosity, a solid work ethic and a desire to be helpful to others. Gene was a devoted husband to his second wife, Dolly (deceased). Gene married Mary Theresa Pauc on Decemand remained a devoted husband until her death in 1979 and a great son-in law and brother-in-law to Mary's parents and brothers, Fred, William and Frank (deceased). He was a loving brother to Pauline Tiedemann until her recent death. Gene loved to tell stories of his childhood summers at the family farm in Northern Wisconsin, eating green apples, chasing the cats, milking the cows, and having fun with his uncle, George Sensenbrenner (deceased). Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to William and Mary Margaret Joerres.
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