Father Willard F. Jabusch, 88, died Dec. 9.

Born in Chicago, he attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1956.

He also earned a master’s degree in English from Loyola University Chicago and a doctorate in speech from Northwestern University.

Father Jabusch served as assistant pastor at St. James Parish (Wabash Avenue), chaplain and director of Calvert House at the University of Chicago, and as a faculty member at Quigley Preparatory Seminary, at Niles College and at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, where he taught for more than 20 years.

Father John Kartje, rector/president of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, knew “Fr. Bill” during his entire time in college at the University of Chicago, where Father Jabusch was the campus chaplain.

“He was very influential in inviting me to think about the priesthood,” Kartje said. “In addition to being an avid composer and musician, he loved learning and conversing over just about any topic the students were interested in.”

Father Jabusch wrote many hymns and tunes, including “The King of Glory,” a well-known song based on an Israeli folk tune that he learned while studying in Israel.