'Time for the flock to look for the shepherd': Family of missing priest to resume search this weekend

FRANKLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The family of Father Anthony Kluckman is joining a private investigator in Franklin this weekend to resume the search for the priest that's been missing for nine months.

Father Anthony suffers from dementia. He was last seen on a security camera walking out of his apartment complex at 1:35 a.m. last July.

Father Anthony is the oldest of eight children. His siblings call him the shepherd who always cared for the flock. Now, they say, it's time for the flock to look for the shepherd.

Pat Kluckman, Father Anthony's brother, said, "He was such an amazing priest, and is such an amazing priest and brother."

Pat said his family is still holding out hope, still on the hunt for his big brother.

Father Anthony was 75 years old when he walked out of his Franklin retirement complex last July. He has not been seen since.

There have been no clues, even after his family put up a $10,000 reward.

The family is now organizing a group to look further. Pat said, "I think now is the time that weather and the trees will give us the opportunity to go out, fan out, and do a complete ground search as best as possible."

Father Anthony was originally named John after their father, but changed his name when he was ordained. St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost things.

Pat said, "We still pray he'll be found healthy and alive, but we understand the reality of these types of situations unfortunately end up."

Several police and professional searches have used trained dogs and divers, drones and sonar. But still, nothing.

The family is distraught and looking for closure and finality.

This coming Saturday, several of Father Anthony's sisters and brothers will gather from around the country to resume the search. They want to be able to say they did all they could for an amazing priest, brother, and son.

Pat said, "He married us, as we said, and he buried us. He performed five weddings and two funerals."

But the Kluckman family's motivation extends beyond their brother. At any given time more than 100,000 people may be reported missing in the U.S.

Pat said, "Maybe we can find somebody else. Maybe somebody else will take an interest when they see an Amber Alert or Silver Alert. I know that I pay a lot more attention to those types of alerts now than I ever did before."

The family says all are welcome Saturday to help search for clues.

They'll meet at 8:30 Saturday morning at Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake in Franklin.