Divine Word Father Pascal LoBianco, 95, died Dec. 19 in Techny. He was a missionary in Ghana.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in Dubuque, Iowa, and began studying with the Divine Word Society in 1935.

Father LoBianco was assigned to Ghana after being ordained in 1950. He worked tirelessly in establishing churches, rectories, convents and 19 government-approved elementary schools, as well as a hospital, nursing school and teachers’ college. He later served as vicar general of the then-Diocese of Accra.

After 32 years in Ghana, Father LoBianco returned to the United States and served in the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois. He retired to Techny in 1997.