Priest Obituaries

Father Rick Dagit died September 14, 2023, at the rectory in Colo.

Ordained in 1986, he would have been 70 years old next May when he planned to retire.

You can read his full obituary at https://www.surls.com/obituaries/Fr-Rick-Dagit?obId=29081798#/obituaryInfo

The funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Story Marshal Catholic Cluster Facebook page on Wednesday, September 27, at 11 a.m.: https://www.facebook.com/StoryMarshallCatholicCluster

Father Zee was born on March 20, 1933 in Wuxi, Jiangsu, China in a Catholic family (being Catholics for several generations). Even though lived in poverty, his father insisted on his primary and secondary education in the Catholic schools. Father Zee entered Preparatory Seminary in Shanghai in 1948, at a time when Communist took over China. He left Shanghai for Taiwan in 1949 together with seminarians in Nanjin Diocese. After studying two years in high school in Taichung, Taiwan, the rector of his diocese arranged him to receive formation in the US. He attended Belmont Abbey College, in N.C., in 1951. Later he was transferred to Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa where he received Bachelor’s degree in 1955. At the same year he entered St. Bernard Seminary of Dubuque, Iowa to receive priestly formation. He was ordained a priest by archbishop Leo Binz in January 31, 1959. In the year between 1958 to 2000, Father Zee served in more than a dozen parishes in Dubuque Archdiocese in Iowa. In year 2000, Father Zee received permission to come to Houston to serve as the second pastor of the Ascension Chinese Mission. He led the parishioners to build a new church in 2004 and a rectory in 2010. Father Zee retired from active ministry on October 31, 2016 and took his residence in Stafford, Texas. He was found with stomach cancer in July 2021. On the Father’s Day of 2023, June 18, Fr. Louis went through the door of death to eternity.
Father Zee's full obitary is available here: https://www.winfordfunerals.com/memorials/louis-zee/5218461/index.php


In lieu of flowers, Fr. Louis requested that donations be made to Ascension Chinese Mission for the building of the new activity center. 

Monsignor Cletus J. Hawes, 96, of Wexford, rural Lansing, IA, died Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon, IA. A funeral mass was held on Wednesday, April 5th, at 11:00 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wexford with Archbishop Michael O. Jackels officiating and burial in the church cemetery. Visitation was held at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing on Tuesday, April 4th, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM. To read Father Hawes' full obituary, visit: https://www.martinfunerals.com/obituary/rev-msgr-cletus-hawes

Father Mark McGovern, age 81, of Cedar Rapids, IA, died Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Stonehill Communities in Dubuque, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 27, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville, IA with Archbishop Michael Jackels presiding and Father Daniel Knipper homilist.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery Riceville, IA.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 26, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home, with a scripture wake service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue on Friday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. To read Father McGovern's full obituary, visit https://www.hindtfuneralhomes.com/obituary/FrMark-McGovern

Father John C. Paisley "Father Jack", 86, of Dubuque, died Sunday, July 31, 2022, at his home. Visitation was from 4:00 pm until 6:45 pm Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Church of the Resurrection followed by a prayer service at 6:45 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Paisley was at 10:30 am Thursday, August 4, 2022, at Church of the Resurrection celebrated by Archbishop Michael Jackels and priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Dubuque. Read Father Paisley's obituary: https://www.hskfhcares.com/obituaries/Rev-John-C-Paisley?obId=25503844&fbclid=IwAR0p7hI0icHPA9sdJOiL0CgMhlDKQnjeXh9R57dPWSZpcYMyV_EO-oCio78#/obituaryInfo

Father Frederick C. Fangmann, 84 of Dubuque, Iowa passed away Thursday, July 21, 2022, at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque. Visitation was held from 9 -11 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville where a Mass of Christian Burial commenced at 11 a.m.  Burial was at St. Boniface Cemetery in New Vienna. Read Father Fangmann's obituary: https://kramerfuneral.com/tribute/details/2399/Frederick-Fangmann/obituary.html#tribute-start

Father Donald V. Bakewell died July 6, 2022. Friends and relatives may called from 4-7 PM, Monday, July 11, 2022, at St. Joseph Church in Key West, Iowa, with a prayer service led by Father Josh Link at 7:00 PM.  Friends and relatives also called from 9-11 AM on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at St. Patrick Church in Waukon, IA.  The mass of Christian immediately followed at 11:00 AM with Archbishop Michael Jackels presiding and Fr. John Moser as homilist.  Burial was held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Waukon, IA. Read more about Father Bakewell's life: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/25316434/reverend-donald-v-bakewell?fbclid=IwAR0-B7o7OrhOd-2z2ocmHQkN_wYzEn1bw4KfSamzkqeC99TpEzGXEs0PfwM

Msgr. Paul T. Steimel, 94, of Waterloo, passed away April 2, at Well Springs Living, Friendship Village. Mass of Christian Burial was held  at 11:00 a.m. Thursday April 7th at St. Edward Catholic Church with burial in St. Mary Cemetery, Eagle Center. Public visitation was from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at St. Edward Catholic Church, 1423 Kimball Avenue in Waterloo. The service was livestreamed at https://sted.org/. Read Msgr. Steimel's full obituary at: https://www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com/obituaries/Msgr-Paul-T--Steimel?obId=24476192

Father Loras C. Otting, 85, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022 atStonehill Care Center in Dubuque,Iowa.

Visitation for Rev. Loras Otting was held from 2 to 5 pm, Sunday, March 27,2022 at St. Martin’s Church in Cascade, where a Scripture wake service was held at 4:30 pm. Visitation was held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 28, 2022 at St. Martin’s Church, Cascde.

A Mass of Christian burial was held for Father Loras at 11:00 am, Monday, March 28, 2022 at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa with Archbishop Michael O. Jackels presiding. Concelebrating was Father Mark Osterhaus and Father Paul Otting and many other priests of the Archdioceses. Deacon Mark Otting assisted. Burial was held in Calvary Cemetery in Cascade, Iowa. To read Father Otting's full obituary, visit: https://www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com/obituaries/print?o_id=7928503

Fr. Phillip E. Schmitt, 91, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, December 31, 2021. His body was donated to the UI Deeded Body Program. Funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, January 17, 2022, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Archbishop Michael O. Jackels will officiate. Masks are recommended. A livestream of the funeral mass will be available at service time at https://www.youtube.com/c/ImmaculateConceptionCatholicChurch. Read his full obituary: https://www.murdochfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Phillip-Schmitt/#!/Obituary

Father Melvin Hemann died December 14, 2021 in Florida. He donated his body to science. A memorial Mass will be held some time in January 2022 at St. Patrick Parish in Cedar Falls.   

 Father Hemann, the son of Bernard and Olive (Halbach) Hemann, was born Oct. 15, 1928, in Stacyville. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque and completed his theological studies at Mount St. Bernard Seminary, also in Dubuque.

He was ordained Jan. 31, 1959, by Archbishop Leo Binz at the Cathedral of St. Raphael in Dubuque.

He served as associate pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin and Holy Cross Parish in Schley, 1959; St. Patrick Parish in Cedar Rapids, 1959-60; St. Peter Parish in New Haven, 1960; St. Benedict Parish in Decorah, 1960-65; and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Catholic Student Center in Ames, 1965-72.

He served in team ministry in Mason City, 1972-76, and in Charles City and Roseville, 1976-77. He served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Chelsea, 1977-81. He was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Preston, 1981-91, while also serving as pastor of St. Peter Parish in Sabula and Sacred Heart Parish in Green Island, 1987-91. He was dean of the Bellevue Deanery, 1987-91.

He served as director of the Family Life Office, 1991-98, while also serving as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Rickardsville, 1991-98, and SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Sherrill and St. Francis Parish in Balltown, 1993-98. He was executive secretary of the Balltown-Sherrill Consolidated School, 1993-98.

He retired in 1998 in Cedar Falls. For nine years, he volunteered as chaplain at American Martyrs Retreat House and, as most retired priests, assisted as needed in area ­parishes.

In 1998, he also fulfilled a lifelong dream when he completed the construction of an RV 6 airplane.  At the time, he was national chaplain of Marriage Retorno and the 200-mph plane offered him a means of travel to present weekends throughout the United States. In his free time, he served as a flight instructor and charter pilot at the Waterloo airport. He was also active for many years in the National Association of Priest Pilots. In 2019, Father Hemann celebrated sixty years of priesthood. Three years before this, he moved to Palm Coast, Florida, where he assisted at local parishes and with flight instruction at a local airport.

Father (Monsignor) John Hemann died on Saturday, October 9, 2021. Visitation will be on Thursday, 14 October 2021, at Sacred Heart Parish in Osage from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Sacred Heart Parish in Osage at 10:30 a.m. A link to his obituary will be included here when it becomes available. For more on Msgr. John Hemann's life and minstry, read an article published to mark the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood: https://www.thewitnessonline.org/vocations/three-clergy-celebrating-60-years-of-priesthood/

Father Joseph J. Slepicka, 92, of Clear Lake and formerly of Mason City, died Friday, September 17, 2021 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 am Friday, September 24, 2021 at Epiphany Parish - Holy Family Catholic Church, 722 N Adams Ave., Mason City. A livestream will be available on the Epiphany Parish Facebook page. Burial will follow in Elmwood - St Joseph Cemetery, Mason City. Visitation with public viewing will be held Thursday evening, September 23, at Epiphany Parish - Holy Family Catholic Church from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. For more information on Father Slepicka's life and ministry, visit: https://www.colonialchapels.com/obituaries/Joseph-Slepicka/#!/Obituary

Father Harry Koelker died August 6, 2021. Visitation for Father Koelker was held from 2 to 8 p.m., Monday, August 9, 2021 at Reiff Funeral Home, Dyersville, where a prayer service was held at 7 p.m. with Father Carl Ries presiding. Visitation was held after 8:30 a.m. until serivces. The Mass of the Resurrection was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg, with Archbishop Michael Jackels Presiding. The Homilist was Father Tony Kruse. Concelebrating will be several clergy from the Dubuque Archdiocese. Burial was held at the parish cemetery. For more information on his life and ministry, visit https://globegazette.com/news/local/obituaries/father-harry-koelker/article_7bfeeafa-983e-56a0-8bde-ae1cfc14bf27.html

ather Tom Braak, 87 of Marshalltown, IA passed away Friday, May 7, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 14, 2021 at St. Francis of Assisi - St. Henry Catholic Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. Vigil Service, Thursday, May 13, 2021 at St. Francis of Assisi - St. Henry Catholic Church. Father Tom Braak's Mass of Christian Burial will be live streamed at the following link, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G3I1QLSZbg. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Francis of Assisi Parrish. Arrangements are entrusted to Anderson Funeral Homes in Marshalltown. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com. To read Father Braak's obituary, visit https://www.andersonfhs.com/obituary/583848/Father-Tom--Braak---05/07/2021/

Father John James O’Connor, 88 a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque passed away Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021 at Stonehill Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Wahlert Catholic High School with Most Rev. Michael Jackels officiating and with Rev. Msgr. Lyle Wilgenbusch as homilist. Visitation for Father O'Connor will be from 4:00 pm. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 9, 2021 at Wahlert Catholic High School, 2005 Kane Street where there will be a wake service at 4:00 p.m. with Father Anthony Kruse officiating.  Visitation will also be after 9:00 a.m. until time of services Saturday. Burial will follow the Mass at Saint John Cemetery, Placid For more information and to learn about Father O'Connor's life, visit: https://www.leonardfuneralhome.com/obituary/RevJohn-OConnor

Rev. Richard G. Gaul, 78, of Guttenberg, formerly of Luxemburg, passed away Friday, March 19, 2021, at Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque. Visitation was held 2:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2021, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a prayer service was held at 6:00 p.m. Visitation continued Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church prior to funeral services.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg with burial in the church cemetery.  Archbishop Michael Jackels will officiate, Rev. Francis Fried and Rev. Noah Diehm will concelebrate along with priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. 
For more information, visit https://kramerfuneral.com/tribute/details/2238/Richard-Gaul/obituary.html#tribute-start

Reverend John R. Tilp, 78, of Dubuque, died Thursday morning, January 21, 2021, at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque from Parkinsons with Lewy Body.

Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm Sunday, January 24, 2021, at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home & Cremation Service 3860 Asbury Road. Please respect our current social distancing requirements. If you are not feeling well or are unable to attend, we encourage you to visit www.hskfhcares.com to send a message to Father John's family.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Father John will be 11:00 am Monday, January 25, 2021, at Holy Spirit Parish - Sacred Heart Catholic Church con-celebrated by Archbishop Michael Jackels and Father John Gossman and priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque. The mass will be live streamed on Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home's Facebook page and will also be available to view later at https://www.hskfhcares.com/. For more information, visit https://www.hskfhcares.com/obituaries/Reverend-John-R-Tilp?obId=19745263#/obituaryInfo

The Rev. Carl J. Manternach, 91, of Dubuque, formerly of Monticello, passed away Friday, January 8, 2021, at Stonehill Franciscan Services. A private Mass of Christian burial will be live-streamed on Sacred Heart Catholic Church Facebook page at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 12, 2021. Archbishop Michael Jackels will officiate and Rev. Paul Baldwin will concelebrate along with priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. For more information, visit  https://kramerfuneral.com/tribute/details/2216/Rev-Carl-Manternach/obituary.html#tribute-start

Lloyd Edward Reuter, 91 years old, of Gilbertville, IA,  died of natural causes, Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at his home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. - Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Gilbertville, with celebrant, Most Rev. Michael O. Jackels; concelebrants, Rev. Henry P. Huber and Rev. Jeffrey A. Dole; assisted by Mr. Kevin Hagarty. For more information, visit http://www.white-mthope.com/component/content/article/2-obituaries/1251-rev-lloyd-e-reuter.html

Rev. Lloyd Paul Ouderkirk, age 87, of Dubuque, passed away at 12:48 a.m., on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at Stonehill Care Center. To celebrate Father Paul’s life, family and friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at St. John the Baptist Church, 241 Peosta Street, Peosta, Iowa. To honor Fr. Paul’s life, funeral services will be held immediately following visitation at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday at St. John the Baptist Church. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Centralia, Iowa. For more information, visit https://www.behrfuneralhome.com/obituary/rev-lloyd-paul-ouderkirk/