Father Ivan M. Lebar, T.O.R., 91, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular, Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, died on 7 December 2022 at Saint Francis Friary in Loretto, PA.
Born 7 September 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Ivan A. and Magdalene (Kramar), Father Ivan was given the name Michael Paul. After completing one year of high school in Cleveland, Michael transferred to Saint Francis Preparatory School in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania to complete his high school education and become a candidate with the Third Order Regular Franciscans. Upon entrance into the novitiate in 1950, Michael assumed the religious name Ivan, his deceased father’s name. A year later, Brother Ivan entered Saint Francis College where he graduated in 1954 with a Bachelors in Philosophy and minor in Latin. After professing solemn vows on 3 July 1954, he completed his theological studies at St. Francis Seminary in Loretto.
Following his ordination to the Priesthood on 24 May 1958, Father Ivan went on to teach religion and English at Bishop Egan High School in Philadelphia for sixteen years. During that time, he also earned an M.A. in Educational Psychology from Villanova University.
Then, upon his request, Fr. Ivan began a long career in parochial ministry, being assigned first to Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tucson, Arizona where he could also care for his aging mother. Following her death in 1981, Fr. Ivan was appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish in Herndon, Virginia where he faithfully served for nine years with other Franciscan friars.
His first appointment as Pastor came in 1990 when he was assigned to St. Ann & St. Peter Catholic Churches in Geddes and Platte, South Dakota. However, due to feelings of loneliness and being the only priest in two small rural parishes, far away from family and friends, Fr. Ivan asked for a new assignment after just one year. For this reason, Fr. Ivan was reassigned in December 1991 to serve as Pastor of Assumption Parish in Keyser, WV where he ministered faithfully for the next twenty-two years. Although Assumption Parish was also a small rural parish, Fr. Ivan resided there with Bro. Luke Stone, TOR, who served the parish in numerous capacities until his death in 2011. Two years later, after serving in parish ministry for early 38 years, Fr. Ivan retired at the age of 82.
Following his retirement, Fr. Ivan resided at St. Francis Friary, the Franciscan’s retirement facility located in Loretto, PA where he could often be found outdoors planting flowers and working in the gardens. His love for nature was also evident at the various parishes he served, especially Assumption Parish, where he enjoyed spending time maintaining the parish cemetery grounds.
In addition to his parents, Fr. Ivan is preceded in death by his two brothers Ivan Jr. and Stephen and two sisters Martha (Bukovec) and Margaret (Stahlinecker). He is survived by his nieces Joanne (Lebar) Rozic, Karen (Lebar) Ehrbar, Frances (Lebar) Kent and his nephew Michael Bukovec; as well as their spouses, grand nieces and nephews, and his Franciscan Community.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Ivan was celebrated on 12 December 2022 at St. Francis Friary at Mount Assisi with the Very Rev. Joseph Lehman, T.O.R., Minister Provincial as principal celebrant. Following the Mass, Fr. Ivan was buried at the Franciscan Friars’ Cemetery on the campus of Saint Francis University, Loretto.