Background
Balke, Victor Herman was born on September 29, 1931 in Meppen, Illinois, United States. Son of Bernard H. and Elizabeth A. (Knese) Balke.
Balke, Victor Herman was born on September 29, 1931 in Meppen, Illinois, United States. Son of Bernard H. and Elizabeth A. (Knese) Balke.
Bachelor of Arts Philosophy, St. Mary of Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, 1954; Bachelor of Sacred Theology in Theology, St. Mary of Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, 1956; Master of Arts in Religion, St. Mary of Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, 1957; Licentiate of Sacred Theology in Theology, St. Mary of Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, 1958; Master of Arts in English, St. Saint Louis University, 1964; Doctor of Philosophy, St. Saint Louis University, 1973.
In September 1949, he entered the seminary and was ordained a priest on May 24, 1958, by Bishop William A. O’Connor for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Following his ordination in Springfield, Balke served as assistant pastor at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception for four years and was chaplain at Saint Joseph Home for the Aged. Later he was named procurator, and then rector of the Diocesan Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield.
He served on the Matrimonial Tribunal as synodal judge and defender of the bond.
He was appointed Bishop of Crookston by Pope Paul VI on July 3, 1976, and was consecrated the sixth bishop of that diocese on September 2, 1976. After being the Bishop of Crookston for 31 years, and one day before his 76th birthday, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Michael Joseph Hoeppner as the new Bishop of Crookston.
Bishop Balke remained at the helm of the diocese as apostolic administrator until Bishop-elect Hoeppner was installed on November 30, 2007.
Member of Lions, Knights of Columbus.