Thomas Lobsinger (1927 - 2000)
Thomas Lobsinger was born in Brampton, Ontario. He took Catholic vows in 1947 and became a priest in August 1954. He became the OMI’s Provincial Superior in Western Canada. Father Lobsinger was ordained in 1987 by Pope Paul II as the fourth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse. The Diocese stretches from south of Fort Nelson to include the whole Yukon.1)
Bishop Lobsinger used the Catholic Church’s Cessna 182 to travel from parish to parish. The plane was valued at $100,000 but was not insured because of the cost. The Cessna was lost when Hanger B in Whitehorse was destroyed by fire in July 1993.(“Fire kindles memories of 1993 inferno.” The Whitehorse Star (Whitehorse), 19 January 1999.))
Bishop Lobsinger and Brother Hobby Spruyt were killed when Lobsinger’s Cessna 172 crashed on Fox Lake. Lobsinger had many years as a pilot in northern conditions. They were on their way to Dawson to say mass at St. Mary’s as Father Tim Coonen was away. Lobsinger and Spruyt were both academically bright but they loved working in the community. They were good friends and had worked together for many years.2)