Daniel James Gercke

Daniel James Gercke (October 9, 1874 – March 19, 1964) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Tucson from 1923 to 1960.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Daniel James Gercke
Bishop of Tucson Titular Archbishop of Cotyaeum
Appointed	June 21, 1923
Installed	June 21, 1923
Term ended	September 28, 1960
Predecessor	Henry Regis Granjon
Successor	Francis Joseph Green
Orders
Ordination	June 1, 1901 by Patrick John Ryan
Consecration	November 6, 1924 by Dennis Joseph Dougherty
Personal details
Born	(1874-10-09)October 9, 1874 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
Died	March 19, 1964(1964-03-19) (aged 89)
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Christopher and Catherine (née Shea) Gercke
Education	St. Charles Borromeo Seminary St. Joseph's College, Philadelphia

Biography

Early life

Daniel Gercke was born in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Christopher and Catherine (née Shea) Gercke.^[1] He attended St. Joseph's College in Philadelphia, from where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1891.^[1] He completed his theological studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook.^[2]

Priesthood

Gercke was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Patrick Ryan on June 1, 1901.^[3] He then served as a curate at St. Joseph's Parish in Girardville, Pennsylvania, and afterwards at Holy Trinity Parish in Philadelphia.^[1] He briefly served at St. Mary's in Philadelphia before going to Vigan City, Philippines, in 1903.^[1] He served as vicar general of the Diocese of Nueva Cáceres in the Philippines from 1910 to 1919.^[1]

Gercke was named a domestic prelate by Pope Benedict XV in 1915, and returned to Philadelphia in 1919. He then served as rector of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.^[1]

Bishop of Tucson

On June 21, 1923, Gercke was appointed the third bishop of the Diocese of Tucson by Pope Pius XI.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on November 6, 1923, from Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, with Bishops John MacGinley and James Paul McCloskey serving as co-consecrators.^[3]

Retirement and legacy

On September 28, 1960, Pope Paul VI accepted Gercke's resignation as bishop of Tucson and named him as titular archbishop of Cotyaeum on the same date.^[3] Daniel Gercke died on March 19, 1964, at age 89.^[3]