Arthur Francis Richmeier was born in St. Peter, Kansas, on January 3, 1928, the third oldest of the ten children of Wendeline and Mary Boxier Richmeier. He attended St. Anthony's School, St. Peter, Kansas, and Holcomb Consolidated School, Holcomb, Kansas, from 1934 to1942. For the next nine yea.rs he worked on the family farm.

From 1951 to 1954, Arthur served in the United States Armored Infantry, with over a year's service in Germany. At the time of his honorable discharge, he held the rank of Corporal.

Following his return to civilian life, he became employed as a maintenance man at St. Catherine's Hospital, Garden City, Kansas, one of the apostolates of the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend. When he decided to enter religious life, the Administrator of the Hospital wrote:

Mr. Richmeier worked at St. Catherine Hospital for approximately five years. During that time we could not ask for a more loyal worker and friend. He was always available, regardless of the time of day or night, to perform whatever task the Sisters might require. He worked very hard, was never lazy, and never shirked any of his duties whether difficult or menial. It is practically impossible to replace an employee of Mr. Richmeier's caliber, but we are very happy for him. We recommend him to you as a man we know to be hard- working, devoted and loyal.

This testimonial was true of Arthur throughout his entire life in the Order. Arthur entered the Dominican Order on June 1, 1959, receiving the habit and religious name of Cornelius, at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois. A year and a day later, he professed simple vows there.

Brother Arthur spent all his years in the Order at the Priory in River Forest, engaged primarily in auto maintenance for both the Priory and Fenwick High School Athletic

Department, and the care of the lawns and roads on the Priory grounds. He also assisted with other repairs and maintenance as time allowed, as well as with the maintenance work at Dominican Camp (later renamed Camp Tamarack in Menominee, Michigan.

In March 1986, Brother Arthur was found to have cancer of the esophagus. In spite of treatment, the disease could not be controlled, and he failed rapidly and died a peaceful death on December 7, 1986. Following a funeral Mass at the Priory of St. Dominic and St. Thomas in River Forest on December 9, he was buried at his request in the family plot of St. Mary's Cemetery at Garden City, Kansas.