Rev. Kieran Kemner, O.F.M.
The Rev. Kieran Kemner, O.F.M., died peacefully at 1:15 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2015 at the age of 87 in Blessing Hospital. Fr. Kieran was born on May 22, 1927 in Quincy, a son of Bernard J. & Henrietta (Freiburg) Kemner, his Baptismal name was Charles. On July 4, 1946 he entered the Order of Friars Minor (O.F.M.). He was ordained to the Franciscan priesthood in Teutopolis, Illinois, on June 29, 1953.
His fifty seven years of active ministry were dedicated to preaching and teaching the Word of God in the classroom, through various retreat programs, in parish adult formation courses, and through Bible Study Groups in homes and at a retirement community. He will be remembered for his gentle, peaceful and affable personality, plus his humor and comforting smile. His passion for his Franciscan vocation and his love for the Word of God touched and impacted countless people.
In the fall of 2011 his health no longer permitted him to be engaged in active ministry. He returned to his native home of Quincy and went into full retirement at Sunset Home.
He is survived by a brother, Don Kemner of Wildwood, MO; a sister, Carolyn Kemner Briddle and her husband Charles of Quincy; a sister-in-law, Mary Kemner of Quincy; and an aunt Carlene Kemner of Quincy. Many nieces nephews, great-nieces & nephews and great-great nieces & nephews also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Fr. Gregory Kemner, O.F.M. & Jerry Kemner and a brother in infancy; a sister-in-law Margaret Kemner, grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. in St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church. Visitation will be held on Thursday afternoon from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at St. Francis Church. Interment will take place on Friday at 10:00 a.m. in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Franciscans of the Sacred Heart Province, the Franciscan Missionary Union or St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
I worked as organist with Fr. Kieran for 14 years at Our Lady’s Chapel at Mayslake Village. He was the chaplain there. Fr. Kieran was my “guru” and friend. His sermons were excellent – each one a brilliant new variation on God’s love. He married my wife, Hilary and I, baptized our children and because of him, I was inspired to become a secular Franciscan. Hilary and I truly loved him as a member of our own family. He made a tremendous impact on us and we will miss him dearly.
He was my religion teacher and spiritual advisor at St Joe’s Seminary. I remember going up to Seminary week in 8th Grade from St Francis and he took us all over Chicago to the Zoo and a Museum, it is a memory I have always cherished. You will be missed Father.
I met Fr. Kieran in several different aspects of his ministry yet most significantly as a spiritual guide, friend and blessing to my mother, Regina Robinson. He continued to walk with her and was a blessing to the whole family during her decline through Alzheimer’s. He was a face she always knew, to the end. My condolences to his family – thank you for sharing him.