Background
Gettelfinger was born in Ramsey, Indiana, the fourth of eight children of Gerald and Mary Gettelfinger.
Gettelfinger was born in Ramsey, Indiana, the fourth of eight children of Gerald and Mary Gettelfinger.
He attended Saint Meinrad High School, graduating in 1953 before attending Saint Meinrad School of Theology where he graduated in 1957.
He was ordained a priest on May 7, 1961. Gettelfinger earned a Mississippi Editor from Butler University in 1969. Gettelfinger served as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis from 1980–1988 and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis from 1988 to 1989.
Gettelfinger was consecrated Bishop of Evansville on April 11, 1989.
Since 1998, Gettelfinger has served as bishop liaison to the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS). He was a chaplain at the 2001 National Scout Jamboree and has trekked at the Philmont Scout Ranch as part of the NCCS Saint George Trek.