Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, June 27, 1999

BELLEVUE, Iowa - Monsignor Ernest P. Ament, 95, of Bellevue, died Friday evening, June 25, 1999, at Mercy Health Center St. Joseph's Unit, Dubuque.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bellevue, with burial in St. Paul's Cemetery, Worthington. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bellevue, where there will be a scripture service at 7 p.m. The Kingery Funeral Home, Bellevue, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on June 21, 1904, son of Theodore and Elizabeth (Werdel) Ament, of Worthington.

He graduated from Loras College and took his theological training at the American College, Louvain, Belgium, where he was ordained by Bishop Paulinus Laudeuze on July 14, 1929.

His first assignment was at St. Paul's, Worthington, where he served before being appointed associate at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Petersburg.

In July 1930, he was assigned to St. Joseph's, Bellevue, and later that year was named an associate at Immaculate Conception Parish, Cedar Rapids.

From 1933 to 1935, Msgr. Ament did postgraduate work at the Gregorian University, Rome, receiving an STL degree. The following year he earned an STD degree at Catholic University, Washington, D.C.

During the summer of 1936, he taught at Mount Mercy College, Cedar Rapids, and that fall was appointed chaplain at Mount St. Francis Convent, Dubuque. In 1937, he was named to the faculty of Loras College, where he chaired the Religious Studies Department for the next 23 years. During this time, he also served as spiritual director for seminarians and as moderator of the Nocturnal Adoration Society.

He accepted pastorates to Sacred Heart, Manly, in 1959; St. Mary's, Waterloo, in 1965; and St. Joseph's, Garnavillo, in 1972. In 1984, he retired to St. Joseph Parish, 405 Franklin, Bellevue.

He aged with grace and dignity. He was a very warm and caring person, beloved by his family and friends. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bellevue, and a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Dubourgh Assembly, Dubuque.

Surviving are a sister-in-law, Bernadine Ament Geisler, of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Josephine, Verona and Clara; and eight brothers, Arthur, Albert, Benjamin, Leo, Herman, Lester, Frederick "Pete" and Leonard.