Father LaVern "Father T" Trocinski, 87 of La Crescent, MN, passed away on May 8, 2021 at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse, WI.

Father T was born on April 30, 1934 in Coon Valley, WI to Elmer and Olga (Jorgenson) Trocinske. He grew up in Dakota, MN, attended Dakota Grade School and graduated from Winona High School. He studied Philosophy at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, then completed his Theology degree at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN. On May 31, 1960, he was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona by The Most Reverend Bishop Edward A. Fitzgerald. Father T later studied at Regis College in Denver, CO, obtaining a Master's Degree in Family and Community Development. His associate assignments included Queen of Angels in Austin, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Easton, and St. John the Evangelist in Rochester.

As Pastor, he served at St. Theodore in Albert Lea, St. James in Twin Lakes, St. Stanislaus Kosta and St. John Nepomucene in Winona, and Pax Christi in Rochester.

Additional assignments included Chaplain for St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Wabasha, Methodist Hospital in Rochester, College of St. Teresa, Lamberton Home for Children, Cabrini Home, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center all in Winona. Father T was confessor to St. Edward Convent in Austin, moderator for Winona Council of Catholic Women, marriage therapist for Catholic Charities, area and diocesan director of the Campaign for Human Development, founding member of the Bureau of Priests' Retirement, member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and Priest's Senate, College of Consulters, Presbyteral Council, Bishop Advisory Council for Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Priests' Committee for Capital Campaign, area director for Austin, diocesan director of Family Life, dean of the Winona Deanery, Parochial Administrator for St. John the Baptist in Dodge Center, St. Vincent de Paul in West Concord, and St. Francis de Sales in Claremont.

On July 1, 2002, Father T retired, joining the ranks of senior priests in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. In retirement he continued to offer assistance in many of the parishes in the Diocese until health issues limited his ability to do so. After moving to SpringBrook Assisted Living in La Crescent in 2020, he was honored to celebrate weekly Mass with the residents.

Father T is survived by his brothers Donald (ZoeAnn) and Robert (Sandi) both of LaCrescent, MN and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Donna (Rolland) Wilson.

Father T's Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 11:00AM at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Rochester. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Dakota, MN.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com