John Stephen Kloepfer

John Stephen Kloepfer, 90, of Clarksville, VA died peacefully on September 18, 2014 at Meadowview Terrace in Clarksville. He was born December 18, 1923 in Evanston, IL to the late Martin Nicholas, and Irene (Daley) Kloepfer. John graduated from St. Patrick grade school and Joliet High School in Joliet, IL. He attended Joliet Junior College before joining the U. S. Army Air Corps as a radar navigator (1943-45) and served in the Pacific theater.Father Kloepfer earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from St. Ambrose in Davenport, IA. He later worked toward a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. and was ordained a priest for the 4-year-old Joliet Diocese of Illinois on May 30, 1953 by Bishop Martin D. McNamara, the Joliet Diocese’s first Bishop. During his first eight years as a priest, he served as associate pastor at St. Patrick and St. Jude parishes in Joliet (1952-61), while also serving as the first chaplain of the Illinois Youth Center, a correctional facility for young people (1958-1961), John also worked in many other diocesan positions including Catholic charities (1953-58), the Peter Claver Center (1953-58 and 1966-81), the marriage court (1966-68) and the Board of Arbitration and Conciliation (1968-72). In 1962, Bishop McNamara assigned Fr. Kloepfer to Woodridge, IL to establish a church and school for the growing faith community. From 1967 to 1981, Fr. Kloepfer was pastor of the 250-family parish of Sacred Heart in Joliet where he became actively involved in urban renewal and racial healing. In 1981, he was assigned to the 3000-family parish of St. Michael’s in Wheaton, IL.Fr. Kloepfer said “it was like jumping into the North Sea during the winter.” After eight years at St. Michael’s, he transferred to the Diocese of Richmond, Va. and was assigned to St. Thomas More in Lynchburg, VA in 1989. He retired in 1995 but continued to help fill vacancies throughout the Richmond Diocese as requested. His last responsibilty was covering Crewe, McHerrin and Blackstone on weekends, five years ago, until he himself was overcome by health issues. Visitation for friends and family will be 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 19, 2014 at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home, 703 Virginia Ave, Clarksville, 23927. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 10:00 AM with a reception immediately following at St. Catherine’s of Siena Church, 805 Virginia Avenue, Clarksville, VA 23927. Following the services, Father Kloepfer will be transported to the Joliet, IL area for services at St. Patrick’s Church followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery in the family burial plot. One of Father Kloepfer’s favorite quotes was from Pope Paul VI “If you want peace, work for justice.” Online condolences may be expressed to the Kloepfer family and friends at www.wclfh.com