Alfred Emmanuel McCoy 1928-2012

MCCOY HAND

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/24/2012 at 11:36:06

Sioux City Journal
September 16, 2012

The Rev. Alfred E. McCoy, 83, of Sioux City passed away Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Sioux City, with the Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless officiating. His nephew, Monsignor Kevin C. McCoy, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish of Webster County, will preach the homily. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery at Pocahontas, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Visitation will resume 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church in Sioux City.

Alfred Emmanuel McCoy was born on Dec. 15, 1928, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to James and Mary (Hand) McCoy. He attended Catholic schools in Emmetsburg. Following his graduation from Emmetsburg Catholic High School, he continued his education at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, after which he did his theological training at the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. In addition to his theological degree, he completed a master's degree in education at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minn.

On May 5, 1954, the Rev. Alfred E. McCoy was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, with the Most Rev. Joseph M. Mueller as ordaining prelate. Fr. McCoy’s priestly assignments in the diocese of Sioux City were: 1954-57, Assistant Pastor, Cathedral of the Epiphany; 1957-61, Assistant Pastor, St. Mary, Storm Lake; 1961-65 Pastor, St. Mary, Pomeroy and St. Joseph, Palmer; 1965-67, Pastor, Holy Family, Lidderdale; 1967-68 Pastor, St. Brigid, Grand Junction and St. John, Paton; 1968-69, Pastor, Holy Name, Rock Rapids; 1969-71, Pastor, Sacred Heart and Ss. Peter and Paul, Pocahontas; 1971-72, Pastor, St. Thomas, Manson; 1972-75, Pastor, St. Joseph, Jefferson; 1975-83, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Cherokee and St. John, Quimby; 1983-86, Pastor, St. Mary, Ashton; 1986-1988, St. Joseph, Wesley; 1988-1991, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Ida Grove; 1991-1994, Rector, Cathedral of the Epiphany, Sioux City; 1994-1995, Senior priest, Blessed Sacrament, Sioux City; 1995-1998, Pastor, St. John, Onawa and St. Bernard, Blencoe while serving as president of Bishop Heelan Catholic High School (1996-98); 1998-2002, administration, Bishop Heelan Catholic High School and chaplain at Briar Cliff University, Sioux City.

In addition to these priestly responsibilities, Fr. Al enjoyed assisting with sacramental ministry to the Carmelite Monastery and the Iowa Air National Guard in Sioux City. He will long be remembered for his wit, his “Heelan announcements,” as well as his foray into local politics as mayor of Cherokee.

Survivors include his sister, Ruth (James) Wright of Des Moines, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary (Hand) McCoy, and 15 of his siblings, sisters, Margaret McCoy, Kathryn Hermansen, Marie Hastings, Betty Kelly and brothers, John, Robert, William, Leo, Joseph, Peter, Gene, Walter, Richard, Gerald and James Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to benefit tuition assistance needs at Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools, Sioux City.