Fitzgerald, Michael C. Rev. 1950 – 2001

FITZGERALD, WAGNER, BURDESS, KLINE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/22/2024 at 16:07:22

Source: Times Plain Dealer; Oct. 10, 2001 Page A-3
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by Joy Moore

Rev. Michael Fitzgerald services held
A Mass of Christian Burial for Reverend Michael C. Fitzgerald of the Archdiocese of Dubuque was held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Nevada. Presiding was Most Rev. Jerome G. Hanus, O.S.B., Archbishop of Dubuque. Rev. Dennis Cahill was the homilist. Concelebrating were Reverends Ardel Barta, Dick Funke, Leon Connolly, Jerry Kopacek, Justin Kane, Joe O’Brien, David Wheeler, Jim Hayes, Michael McMillen, S.C.J., Jon Seda, John Herzog and Carl Ries. A private burial was held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7 in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Nevada. Kramer Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Rev. Michael Fitzgerald, 50, died Tuesday, October 2, 2001 at OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital, Rockford, IL as a result of a motor vehicle accident 14 miles west of Freeport, IL.
Rev. Michael C. Fitzgerald was born November 13, 1950 in Ames, the second son of Robert Charles and Pauline (Wagner) Fitzgerald. He attended Nevada High School and graduated in 1969. He earned an Associates Degree at Ellsworth Community College and continued his education at Conception Seminary, Conception, MO, and St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN. He was ordained May 27, 1978 at his home parish, St. Patrick’s in Nevada by Archbishop James J. Byme. After temporary duties at St. Joseph Parish, Dubuque and Immaculate Conception, Cedar Rapids, his first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, where he also served on the faculty of Beckman High School. In 1984 he was appointed to St. Patrick’s, Cedar Falls and St. Mary’s, Dike, while also serving on the faculty of Columbus High School, Waterloo.
He was named associate pastor of Pius X, Cedar Rapids in 1987. He was named pastor at Assumption in Cresco and St. Bridget’s of Bluffton in 1989. In 1996 he was also named pastor at St. Joseph’s Cresco and administrator of St. Agnes, Plymouth Rock.
He was instrumental in combining the parishes in Cresco into Notre Dame. In 1997 he was appointed pastor of St.Joseph’s, Marion and St. Isador’s, Springville. In 1999 he began serving in Sacramental Services at the Iowa State Reformatory, Anamosa.
He is survived by his mother Pauline of Nevada; four brothers: James of Aurora, IL, Philip of Muscatine, John and Patrick, both of Nevada; and two sisters: Rebecca Burdess of Colfax and Janese Kline of Nevada.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert.