WATERS, Robert J.

WATERS, CARR, MULLISON, CURRIE, COSTLOW

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 9/12/2006 at 15:58:53

The Rev. Robert J. Waters

CHEROKEE, Iowa -- The Rev. Robert J. Waters, 72, of San Diego, Calif., formerly of Cherokee, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2005, in San Diego following an illness of several months.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, with the Rev. Armand Bertrand and concelebrants from the Sioux City Diocese officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, with a parish Scripture service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee.

Robert James Waters was born May 19, 1933, in Cherokee, the son of Francis Michael and Leone (Carr) Waters. He attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and High School, graduating in 1952. He then attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating in 1956 with a bachelor of arts degree. He then entered Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, completing his preparation for the priesthood of the Diocese of Sioux City in 1960. He was ordained a priest at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City on June 4, 1960.

Post graduate studies include Creighton University, Omaha, where he earned a master of science degree in education. He also attended UCLA from 1970 to 1973. He held a superintendent and counseling certification.

He served as associate pastor of Corpus Christi, Fort Dodge, Iowa, and on the faculty of St. Edmund High School and on the faculty of Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City. He served as the pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Ruthven, Iowa, and superintendent of schools at Emmetsburg (Iowa) Catholic School. Later, he would serve as director of admissions at Briar Cliff College. He also served as the director of the Newman Center at San Diego State University in San Diego, Calif. Upon his return to the Diocese of Sioux City, he served as a sacramental minister to Sacred Heart Church in Spencer, Iowa, after which he was appointed pastor of Assumption Parish in Merrill, Iowa, and St. Joseph Parish in Ellendale, Iowa. He retired from active ministry in 2003 and lived in San Diego.

He is survived by a sister, Mary Jane Waters of Cherokee; a brother, Mike Waters of Cherokee; three nieces, Anne Mullison of Lincoln, Neb., Julie Waters Currie of Des Moines and Cheri Costlow of Des Moines; two nephews, Mike Waters of Bellevue, Colo., and Bob Waters of Stanton, Iowa; plus numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Leonard Waters.