The Rev. Daniel Mark Suellentrop, O.S.B., monk of St. Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, Oklahoma, entered eternal life on Monday, October 12, 2009. He was 83 years old.

He was born on February 3, 1926, to John and Cathryn Neuholt Suellentrop in Colwich, Kansas, where he attended elementary school. He attended St. Gregory's High School in Shawnee, graduating in 1943. After two years of college at Conception Seminary in Missouri he entered the novitiate of St. Gregory's Abbey in 1945. He made first vows as a monk on February 25, 1946, solemn vows on July 11, 1949, and was ordained a priest on April 7, 1951.

He studied philosophy and theology at St. Gregory's Abbey. Father Daniel received a M. A. in Guidance and Counseling from Fordham University and studied School Administration at New York University and The University of Oklahoma.

Fr. Daniel played many roles in St. Gregory's High School. He coached basketball and baseball, was a dorm prefect, taught a variety of courses including mathematics, geography, and religion, and served as the High School Principal. Later he was supervisor of a college dorm. During those years he assisted in parishes on weekends. Later in life he served on the Board of Directors of St. Gregory's University. In 2003, he was inducted into the St. Gregory's University Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements as a student-athlete and coach.

In addition to service at St. Gregory's, he served as pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Sulphur; St. Mary's Church, Wanette; St. Patrick's Mission and Holy Family Parish in Anadarko; St. Benedict Parish, Shawnee; and of the National Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague and St. Wenceslaus in Prague. In 1967 Father Daniel entered the Chaplain's Core of the U. S. Army. His assignments took him to bases in six states and four posts overseas. He served twenty years and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Eventually declining health limited his activity and he returned to the monastery, maintaining contact with students, parishioners, and colleagues from his many years of experience.

Fr. Daniel is survived by the monks of St. Gregory's Abbey; a brother, John F. Suellentrop and his wife Marijean; sister, Mary Blick; sisters-in-law, Kathryn Suellentrop and Joyce Suellentrop; brother-in-law, Tom Medill, and many nieces and nephews.

The monastic community wishes to thank the Abbey Healthcare Staff and the administration and staff of St. Ann Assisted Living and St. Ann Nursing Home in Oklahoma City for the attentive and supportive care that they gave to Fr. Daniel in recent years.

A vigil of prayer for Fr. Daniel will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, in the St. Gregory's Abbey Church, Shawnee.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, in the Abbey Church.

Burial will follow in the St. Gregory's Abbey Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the building fund at St. Gregory's Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur Drive, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804, or the scholarship fund of St. Gregory's University, 1900 W. MacArthur Drive, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804.