Louis Benedict Kucera

Louis Kucera was born in Wheatland, Minnesota, to John Wenceslaus and Mary (née Skluzacek) Kucera, who were Bohemian immigrants.[1] He attended St. John's College before studying at the College of St. Thomas.[1] After his graduation in 1909, he was offered admission to West Point but declined, choosing instead to study for the priesthood.[2] He entered St. Paul Seminary, and was later ordained on June 8, 1915 by Archbishop John Ireland.[3] He then served as a curate at St. Patrick's Church in Tama, Iowa, until 1916, when he became professor of Latin and prefect of discipline at Columbia College in Dubuque.[1] In 1925 he was named pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Protivin.[2]

On June 30, 1930, Kucera was appointed the fifth Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, by Pope Pius XI.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following October 28 from Archbishop Francis Beckman, with Bishops Thomas William Drumm and Henry Rohlman serving as co-consecrators.[3] He was also named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne and in 1955 a Count of the Apostolic Palace.[4] He served as bishop for twenty-six years, until his death at age 68.