WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – What happened to $30,000 held in reserve for maintenance at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in 2008 remains a mystery. Marlene Hack, who worked at the cemetery for six years, said that the cemetery was suddenly in debt. Why? At least $30,000 was in hand for upkeep when she took over, Haack said, but soon soon the cemetery was in debt. “Whatever happened to that fund I have no idea,” she said. Upkeep went downhill when Father James Altman took over back in 2010, she said. Parish priests often have lots of latitude to move funds around. Queries to the LaCrosse Diocese at the time went unanswered. About a year later Altman was transferred to a LaCrosse parish, St. James the Lesser. This is the same Father Altman entangled in an ecclesiastic fight with LaCrosse Bishop William Patrick Callahan for divisive political positions. The Altman transfer out of Wisconsin Rapids occurred before Callahan became bishop.
Calvary Cemetery. 1150 North Second Street.