Rev. Jerome Albin DEGEN

DEGEN, SCHILMOELLER, GOFF, FUCHSEN, LOMBARDO

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/1/2015 at 11:05:14

November 24, 1933 --- June 27, 2015

Jerome Albin Degen was born November 24, 1933, in Eagle Grove, son of Henry and Elisabeth (Schilmoeller) Degen. He grew up in Grandville, graduating from St. Joseph Catholic High School. He attended Loras College Minor Seminary in Dubuque, where he received a B.A. He then went to Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. Fr. Degen was ordained a priest on May 16, 1959 in Sioux City and celebrated his first Mass on May 18th at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona followed by a mass at the home of his grandfather, Herman Schilmoeller in Granville.

His assignments were are follows: Temporary Assistant - St. Lawrence Parish, Carroll; Faculty - Bishop Heelan High School, Sioux City; Missionary for the Society of St. James the Apostle - South American Missions, where he helped establish the Working Boys Society in Guayaquil, Ecuador; Pastor - Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorland; Faculty - St. Edmond High School, Fort Dodge; Pastor - St. Mary Parish, Armstrong; Pastor - St. Joseph Parish, Schaller; Administration - St. Mary High School, Storm Lake; Pastor - Holy Family Parish, Lidderdale; Pastor - St. John Parish, Gilmore City; Pastor - St. Joseph Parish, Jefferson; Pastor - St. Michael Parish, Whittemore; Pastor - Sacred Heart Parish, Laurens; Pastor - St. Joseph Parish, Wall Lake; Chaplin - Marian Home, Fort Dodge; Pastor - St. Paul Parish, Scranton; Pastor - Immaculate Conception Parish, Moville; and Pastor - St. Thomas Parish, Manson. Fr. Degen retired to his home in Algona, later moving to Ft. Dodge.

Fr. Degen enjoyed traveling and was often accompanied by his long time friend Fr. Louis Kollasch. His trips often took him to California and also included Europe, Australia and Mexico. He especially relished his five years doing missionary work in South America for the Society of St. James. Father Degen loved being surrounded by his large family.

He is survived by a sister, Florence Goff of Sioux City, three sisters-in-law, Camilla Degen of Omaha, NE, Ann Degen of Bancroft and Anita Degen of Algona, plus 41 nieces, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, six siblings, Marion Fuchsen, Leonard Degen, Robert Degen, Donald Degen, William Degen, and Esther Lombardo. He was also preceded by in-laws, Lester Fuchsen, James Goff, Virginia Degen and Vincent Lombardo and two nephews, Timothy Degen and Daniel Goff.

Reverend Jerome A. Degen died Saturday, June 27, 2015 at his residence in Marian Home in Fort Dodge. A funeral Mass will be held 11:00 AM Thursday at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Algona. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Eagle Grove. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Wednesday at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona with a Scripture Prayer Service beginning at 6 PM followed by a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Rosary.

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