One of the leading Carmelites of the Milwaukee area, Father Kilian (Franz) Gutmann died at St. Camillus Hospital at the age of 79.

In 1905, two friars came from a monastery in Regensburg, Bavaria – Fr. Eliseus of the Sacred Heart (John Mekina) and Fr. Kilian of the Mother of God (Franz Gutmann). They traveled through the midwestern and northwestern parts of the United States seeking a suitable site for a foundation, particularly in areas settled by German immigrants. Archbishop Messmer of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offered them a property called Holy Hill, a well-known pilgrimage site about thirty miles northwest of Milwaukee. In 1906, the Carmelites took formal possession of Holy Hill with a small community of four friars including Fr. Eliseus who was appointed first superior, Father Kilian and two lay brothers. Succeeding Fr. Eliseus, Among his ministries, Fr. Kilian served as Provincial Delegate, devoted eight years as the superior of Holy Hill. He also served as pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, Thompson, Wisconsin. In 1914, he came to Milwaukee and founded St. Florian’s monastery where he was superior and a professor of moral theology for nine years as well as procurator until the time of his death. Prior to his arrival in America, Fr. Kilian was a theology professor at Carmelite monasteries in Holland and Austria. Much credit is due Fr. Gutmann for the foundation work of the Carmel in America.

Children at St. Florian school sang at his requiem high Mass held at St. Florian Church. His burial was at Holy Hill, Hubertus.