History of Bishops

The Most Rev. Michael O. Jackels
Archbishop of Dubuque
Tenth Archbishop of Dubuque
Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln May 30, 1981;
Appointed Bishop of Wichita January 28, 2005;
Ordained a Bishop April 4, 2005;
Appointed Archbishop of Dubuque April 8, 2013;
Installed May 30, 2013.

The Most Rev. Jerome Hanus, O.S.B., S.T.L.
Archbishop Emeritus
Ninth Archishop of Dubuque
Ordained priest July 30, 1966;
Appointed Bishop of St. Cloud, Minnesota, July 6, 1987;
Ordained a Bishop and installed August 24, 1987;
Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Dubuque August 23, 1994;
Welcomed October 27, 1994;
Succeeded to the See October 16, 1995;
Retired April 8, 2013; named Apostolic Administrator

The Most Rev. Daniel W. Kucera, OSB, Ph.D.
Eighth Archbishop of Dubuque
Ordained priest May 26, 1949;
Appointed Titular Bishop of Natchez and Auxiliary Bishop of Joliet, Illinois, June 6, 1977. Ordained a Bishop July 21, 1977;
Appointed Bishop of Salina, Kansas, March 11, 1980;
Installed May 7, 1980;
Appointed Archbishop of Dubuque December 20, 1983;
Installed February 23, 1984;
Retired October 16, 1995;
Died May 30, 2017.




Most Rev. James J. Byrne, S.T.D.*
Seventh Archbishop of Dubuque
Appointed Titular Bishop of Etenna and Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul, May 10, 1947;
Ordained Bishop July 2, 1947;
Appointed Bishop of Boise, Idaho, June 16, 1956;
Appointed Archbishop of Dubuque March 19, 1962;
Retired August 23, 1983, named Apostolic Administrator;
Died August 2, 1996.




Most Rev. Leo Binz, D.D.
Sixth Archbishop of Dubuque
Ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Winona December 21, 1942;
Coadjutor Archbishop of Dubuque October 15, 1949;
Succeeded December 2, 1954;
Appointed Archbishop of Saint Paul, December 16, 1961;
Died October 9, 1979.




Most Rev. Henry P. Rohlman, D.D.*
Fifth Archbishop of Dubuque
Ordained Bishop of Davenport July 25, 1927;
Appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Dubuque and
Apostolic Administrator June 15, 1944;
Installed September 12, 1944;
Succeeded November 11, 1946;
Resigned December 2, 1954;
Died September 13, 1957.




Most Rev. Francis J.L. Beckman, S.T.D.*
Fourth Archbishop of Dubuque
Ordained Bishop of Lincoln May 1, 1924;
Archbishop of Dubuque, January 17, 1930;
Resigned November 11, 1946;
Died October 17, 1948.




Most Rev. James J. Keane, D.D.
Third Archbishop of Dubuque
Ordained Bishop of Cheyenne Oct. 28, 1902;
Archbishop of Dubuque Aug. 11, 1911;
Died Aug. 2, 1929.




Most Rev. John J. Keane, D.D.
Second Archbishop of Dubuque 
Ordained Bishop of Richmond August 25, 1878;
Elevated to Titular Archbishop January 29, 1897;
Archbishop of Dubuque July 24, 1900;
resigned April 3, 1911;
Died June 22, 1918.




Most Rev. John Hennessy, D.D.*
Third Bishop (First Archbishop) of Dubuque 
Named Bishop of Dubuque April 24, 1866;
Ordained September 30, 1866;
Promoted to Archbishop of Dubuque June 15, 1893;
Died March 4, 1900.




Most Rev. Clement Smyth, OCSO, D.D.*
Second Bishop of Dubuque
Named Coadjutor Bishop of Dubuque January 9, 1857;
Ordained May 3, 1857; succeeded February 19, 1858;
Died September 22, 1865.




Most Rev. Mathias Loras, D.D.*
First Bishop of Dubuque 
Named first Bishop of Dubuque July 28, 1837;
Ordained December 10, 1837;
Died February 19, 1858.

*indicates is buried in the Mortuary Chapel at the Cathedral of St. Raphael, Dubuque.  Virtual Tour of the Mortuary Chapel is available here.

An auxiliary bishop is a bishop assigned to assist the diocesan (arch)bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the (arch)diocese. Auxiliary bishops are also titular (not in charge) bishops of a diocese that no longer formally functions or exists. Auxiliary Bishops are often appointed by the Holy See to become bishop of another diocese.

Most Rev. William E. Franklin
Episcopal Ordination:  April 1, 1987, Titular Bishop of Surista
Auxiliary of Dubuque: 1987 – 1993
Appointed Bishop of Davenport: November 12, 1993
Bishop of Davenport: 1994 – 2006
Retired: October 12, 2006




Most Rev. Francis J. Dunn, D.D.
Episcopal Ordination:  August 27, 1969, Titular Bishop of Turris Tamalleni
Auxiliary of Dubuque: 1969 – 1989
Died: November 17, 1989




Most Rev. Loras J. Watters, D.D.
Episcopal Ordination:  August 26, 1965, Titular Bishop of Fidoloma
Auxiliary of Dubuque: 1965 – 1969
Appointed Bishop of Winona, MN: January 8, 1969
Bishop of Winona, MN: 1969 – 1986
Retired: October 14, 1986
Died: March 30, 2009




Most Rev. George J. Biskup, D.D.
Episcopal Ordination:  April 24, 1957, Titular Bishop of Hemeria
Auxiliary of Dubuque: 1957 – 1965
Appointed Bishop of Des Moines: January 30, 1965
Bishop of Des Moines: 1965 – 1967
Coadjutor Archbishop of Indianapolis, IN: 1967 – 1970
Archbishop of Indianapolis, IN: 1970 – 1979
Resigned: March 20, 1979
Died: October 17, 1979




Most Rev. Loras T. Lane
Episcopal Ordination:  August 20, 1951, Titular Bishop of Bencenna
Auxiliary of Dubuque: 1951 – 1956
Appointed Bishop of Rockford, IL: October 11, 1956
Bishop of Rockford, IL: 1956 – 1968
Died: July 22, 1968




Most Rev. Edward A. Fitzgerald
Episcopal Ordination:  September 12, 1946, Titular Bishop of Cantanus
Auxiliary of Dubuque: 1946 – 1949
Appointed Bishop of Winona, MN: October 20, 1949
Bishop of Winona, MN: 1949 – 1969
Retired: January 8, 1969
Died: March 31, 1972