From obituary:
Poelker, The Reverend Monsignor Gerard Leo Retired Priest of Diocese of Jefferson City, passed away to a peaceful death at Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis, on August 3, 2009, at the age of 91. Gerard Leo Poelker was born on September 1, 1917 at St. Louis, Missouri, the younger of twin boys born to John G. and Anna Marie (Bongner) Poelker. He is survived by one brother, Francis Poelker of California and thirteen nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his siblings: Marie Wiegers, Monsignor Carl C. Poelker, St. Louis Mayor John J. Poelker, Jerome Poelker, and his twin, Adrian George Poelker. Monsignor Poelker served at St. Peter Parish in St. Charles; Chaplain of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood at O'Fallon; St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City; St. Clement Church in Bowling Green; St. Lawrence Church in St. Elizabeth; the Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie, as well as numerous other assignments in the Jefferson City and St. Louis Diocese. Monsignor Poelker was the first Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, and served as the first Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Services: The body will lie in state and visitation will be at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 2305 W. Main St., Jefferson City on Friday, August 7, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., immediately preceding the concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Jefferson City, Missouri. Masses are Preferred and memorials may be made to Vitae Caring Foundation, 1731 Southridge Drive, Suite D; Jefferson City, Missouri 65109. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street; Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. www.millardfamilychapels.com∼MSGR. GERARD L. POELKER. age 91, was a Roman Catholic Priest in the Diocese of Jefferson City, MO and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. During his lengthy priestly career, he served in several Pastorates in the dioceses of Jefferson City and St. Louis (among them, Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City) and as Director of Education for the Diocese of Jefferson City.
The son of John and Anna (Bongner) Poelker of north St. Louis, Msgr. Gerard Poelker was a native of St. Liborius Parish in North St. Louis City. Both he and his priest brother Msgr. Carl C. Poelker studied at St. Liborius School, the Kenrick Latin High School and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained by Archbishop John J. Glennon on March 21, 1942 at the New St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. Another brother, layman John Poelker, served as Mayor of the City of St. Louis for a number of years. All his siblings among the laity also demonstrated a similar faith committment maintained by the Poelker priest-brothers to the Roman Catholic Church.
Msgr. Gerard Poelker served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis until the partition of the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1956, when he was incardinated into the new diocese in mid-Missouri centered at the state capital, Jefferson City.
That same year, Jefferson City Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Marling named him the Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO. In 1962,Pope John XXIII named him a Monsignor with the rank of Papal Chamberlain. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus.
During his lengthy priestly career in mid-Missouri, he had some demanding assignments--among them, the fund-raising and construction of the new St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City, replacing the "temporary" St. Peter's Church as diocesan cathedral near the state Capital building. Msgr. Poelker successfully completed St. Joseph Cathedral on time and within budget. He was widely respected by the Catholic community and general public in Jefferson City for this noteworthy accomplishment.
At the time of his death, he was in retirement at a private residence in Holts Summit, MO, a town near Jefferson City. During his retirement, he had continued to administer Sacraments, say Masses (including Latin Masses) in the Jefferson City diocese and elsewhere. When his infirmities became acute, he moved to the Mary Queen and Mother Nursing Home in Shrewsbury, MO, where he died on August 3, 2008.
After a concelebrated funeral Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City on August 7, 2009, he was buried on the Diocesan Priests Lot at Resurrection Cemetery there.
Jefferson City Bishop John R. Gaydos eulogized him as a truly inspired priest, validated by the many who were in attendance as concelebrants or mourners that day.
He is widely remembered by many Catholics in both dioceses as a dynamic, spiritual, traditional hard-working and dedicated priest, who had one of the longest careers of active priestly service in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Missouri.
Poelker, The Reverend Monsignor Gerard Leo Retired Priest of Diocese of Jefferson City, passed away to a peaceful death at Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis, on August 3, 2009, at the age of 91. Gerard Leo Poelker was born on September 1, 1917 at St. Louis, Missouri, the younger of twin boys born to John G. and Anna Marie (Bongner) Poelker. He is survived by one brother, Francis Poelker of California and thirteen nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his siblings: Marie Wiegers, Monsignor Carl C. Poelker, St. Louis Mayor John J. Poelker, Jerome Poelker, and his twin, Adrian George Poelker. Monsignor Poelker served at St. Peter Parish in St. Charles; Chaplain of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood at O'Fallon; St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City; St. Clement Church in Bowling Green; St. Lawrence Church in St. Elizabeth; the Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie, as well as numerous other assignments in the Jefferson City and St. Louis Diocese. Monsignor Poelker was the first Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, and served as the first Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Services: The body will lie in state and visitation will be at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 2305 W. Main St., Jefferson City on Friday, August 7, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., immediately preceding the concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Jefferson City, Missouri. Masses are Preferred and memorials may be made to Vitae Caring Foundation, 1731 Southridge Drive, Suite D; Jefferson City, Missouri 65109. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street; Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. www.millardfamilychapels.com∼MSGR. GERARD L. POELKER. age 91, was a Roman Catholic Priest in the Diocese of Jefferson City, MO and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. During his lengthy priestly career, he served in several Pastorates in the dioceses of Jefferson City and St. Louis (among them, Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City) and as Director of Education for the Diocese of Jefferson City.
The son of John and Anna (Bongner) Poelker of north St. Louis, Msgr. Gerard Poelker was a native of St. Liborius Parish in North St. Louis City. Both he and his priest brother Msgr. Carl C. Poelker studied at St. Liborius School, the Kenrick Latin High School and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained by Archbishop John J. Glennon on March 21, 1942 at the New St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. Another brother, layman John Poelker, served as Mayor of the City of St. Louis for a number of years. All his siblings among the laity also demonstrated a similar faith committment maintained by the Poelker priest-brothers to the Roman Catholic Church.
Msgr. Gerard Poelker served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis until the partition of the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1956, when he was incardinated into the new diocese in mid-Missouri centered at the state capital, Jefferson City.
That same year, Jefferson City Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Marling named him the Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO. In 1962,Pope John XXIII named him a Monsignor with the rank of Papal Chamberlain. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus.
During his lengthy priestly career in mid-Missouri, he had some demanding assignments--among them, the fund-raising and construction of the new St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City, replacing the "temporary" St. Peter's Church as diocesan cathedral near the state Capital building. Msgr. Poelker successfully completed St. Joseph Cathedral on time and within budget. He was widely respected by the Catholic community and general public in Jefferson City for this noteworthy accomplishment.
At the time of his death, he was in retirement at a private residence in Holts Summit, MO, a town near Jefferson City. During his retirement, he had continued to administer Sacraments, say Masses (including Latin Masses) in the Jefferson City diocese and elsewhere. When his infirmities became acute, he moved to the Mary Queen and Mother Nursing Home in Shrewsbury, MO, where he died on August 3, 2008.
After a concelebrated funeral Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City on August 7, 2009, he was buried on the Diocesan Priests Lot at Resurrection Cemetery there.
Jefferson City Bishop John R. Gaydos eulogized him as a truly inspired priest, validated by the many who were in attendance as concelebrants or mourners that day.
He is widely remembered by many Catholics in both dioceses as a dynamic, spiritual, traditional hard-working and dedicated priest, who had one of the longest careers of active priestly service in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Missouri.
From obituary:
Poelker, The Reverend Monsignor Gerard Leo Retired Priest of Diocese of Jefferson City, passed away to a peaceful death at Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis, on August 3, 2009, at the age of 91. Gerard Leo Poelker was born on September 1, 1917 at St. Louis, Missouri, the younger of twin boys born to John G. and Anna Marie (Bongner) Poelker. He is survived by one brother, Francis Poelker of California and thirteen nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his siblings: Marie Wiegers, Monsignor Carl C. Poelker, St. Louis Mayor John J. Poelker, Jerome Poelker, and his twin, Adrian George Poelker. Monsignor Poelker served at St. Peter Parish in St. Charles; Chaplain of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood at O'Fallon; St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City; St. Clement Church in Bowling Green; St. Lawrence Church in St. Elizabeth; the Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie, as well as numerous other assignments in the Jefferson City and St. Louis Diocese. Monsignor Poelker was the first Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, and served as the first Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Services: The body will lie in state and visitation will be at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 2305 W. Main St., Jefferson City on Friday, August 7, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., immediately preceding the concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Jefferson City, Missouri. Masses are Preferred and memorials may be made to Vitae Caring Foundation, 1731 Southridge Drive, Suite D; Jefferson City, Missouri 65109. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street; Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. www.millardfamilychapels.com∼MSGR. GERARD L. POELKER. age 91, was a Roman Catholic Priest in the Diocese of Jefferson City, MO and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. During his lengthy priestly career, he served in several Pastorates in the dioceses of Jefferson City and St. Louis (among them, Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City) and as Director of Education for the Diocese of Jefferson City.
The son of John and Anna (Bongner) Poelker of north St. Louis, Msgr. Gerard Poelker was a native of St. Liborius Parish in North St. Louis City. Both he and his priest brother Msgr. Carl C. Poelker studied at St. Liborius School, the Kenrick Latin High School and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained by Archbishop John J. Glennon on March 21, 1942 at the New St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. Another brother, layman John Poelker, served as Mayor of the City of St. Louis for a number of years. All his siblings among the laity also demonstrated a similar faith committment maintained by the Poelker priest-brothers to the Roman Catholic Church.
Msgr. Gerard Poelker served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis until the partition of the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1956, when he was incardinated into the new diocese in mid-Missouri centered at the state capital, Jefferson City.
That same year, Jefferson City Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Marling named him the Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO. In 1962,Pope John XXIII named him a Monsignor with the rank of Papal Chamberlain. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus.
During his lengthy priestly career in mid-Missouri, he had some demanding assignments--among them, the fund-raising and construction of the new St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City, replacing the "temporary" St. Peter's Church as diocesan cathedral near the state Capital building. Msgr. Poelker successfully completed St. Joseph Cathedral on time and within budget. He was widely respected by the Catholic community and general public in Jefferson City for this noteworthy accomplishment.
At the time of his death, he was in retirement at a private residence in Holts Summit, MO, a town near Jefferson City. During his retirement, he had continued to administer Sacraments, say Masses (including Latin Masses) in the Jefferson City diocese and elsewhere. When his infirmities became acute, he moved to the Mary Queen and Mother Nursing Home in Shrewsbury, MO, where he died on August 3, 2008.
After a concelebrated funeral Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City on August 7, 2009, he was buried on the Diocesan Priests Lot at Resurrection Cemetery there.
Jefferson City Bishop John R. Gaydos eulogized him as a truly inspired priest, validated by the many who were in attendance as concelebrants or mourners that day.
He is widely remembered by many Catholics in both dioceses as a dynamic, spiritual, traditional hard-working and dedicated priest, who had one of the longest careers of active priestly service in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Missouri.
Poelker, The Reverend Monsignor Gerard Leo Retired Priest of Diocese of Jefferson City, passed away to a peaceful death at Mary Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis, on August 3, 2009, at the age of 91. Gerard Leo Poelker was born on September 1, 1917 at St. Louis, Missouri, the younger of twin boys born to John G. and Anna Marie (Bongner) Poelker. He is survived by one brother, Francis Poelker of California and thirteen nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his siblings: Marie Wiegers, Monsignor Carl C. Poelker, St. Louis Mayor John J. Poelker, Jerome Poelker, and his twin, Adrian George Poelker. Monsignor Poelker served at St. Peter Parish in St. Charles; Chaplain of the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood at O'Fallon; St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson City; St. Clement Church in Bowling Green; St. Lawrence Church in St. Elizabeth; the Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie, as well as numerous other assignments in the Jefferson City and St. Louis Diocese. Monsignor Poelker was the first Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, and served as the first Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Jefferson City. Services: The body will lie in state and visitation will be at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 2305 W. Main St., Jefferson City on Friday, August 7, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., immediately preceding the concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Jefferson City, Missouri. Masses are Preferred and memorials may be made to Vitae Caring Foundation, 1731 Southridge Drive, Suite D; Jefferson City, Missouri 65109. Arrangements are under the direction of HOUSER-MILLARD Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street; Jefferson City, MO 65109. (573) 636-3838. www.millardfamilychapels.com∼MSGR. GERARD L. POELKER. age 91, was a Roman Catholic Priest in the Diocese of Jefferson City, MO and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. During his lengthy priestly career, he served in several Pastorates in the dioceses of Jefferson City and St. Louis (among them, Pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City) and as Director of Education for the Diocese of Jefferson City.
The son of John and Anna (Bongner) Poelker of north St. Louis, Msgr. Gerard Poelker was a native of St. Liborius Parish in North St. Louis City. Both he and his priest brother Msgr. Carl C. Poelker studied at St. Liborius School, the Kenrick Latin High School and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained by Archbishop John J. Glennon on March 21, 1942 at the New St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. Another brother, layman John Poelker, served as Mayor of the City of St. Louis for a number of years. All his siblings among the laity also demonstrated a similar faith committment maintained by the Poelker priest-brothers to the Roman Catholic Church.
Msgr. Gerard Poelker served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis until the partition of the Diocese of Jefferson City in 1956, when he was incardinated into the new diocese in mid-Missouri centered at the state capital, Jefferson City.
That same year, Jefferson City Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Marling named him the Administrator of the new Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO. In 1962,Pope John XXIII named him a Monsignor with the rank of Papal Chamberlain. He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus.
During his lengthy priestly career in mid-Missouri, he had some demanding assignments--among them, the fund-raising and construction of the new St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City, replacing the "temporary" St. Peter's Church as diocesan cathedral near the state Capital building. Msgr. Poelker successfully completed St. Joseph Cathedral on time and within budget. He was widely respected by the Catholic community and general public in Jefferson City for this noteworthy accomplishment.
At the time of his death, he was in retirement at a private residence in Holts Summit, MO, a town near Jefferson City. During his retirement, he had continued to administer Sacraments, say Masses (including Latin Masses) in the Jefferson City diocese and elsewhere. When his infirmities became acute, he moved to the Mary Queen and Mother Nursing Home in Shrewsbury, MO, where he died on August 3, 2008.
After a concelebrated funeral Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Jefferson City on August 7, 2009, he was buried on the Diocesan Priests Lot at Resurrection Cemetery there.
Jefferson City Bishop John R. Gaydos eulogized him as a truly inspired priest, validated by the many who were in attendance as concelebrants or mourners that day.
He is widely remembered by many Catholics in both dioceses as a dynamic, spiritual, traditional hard-working and dedicated priest, who had one of the longest careers of active priestly service in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the State of Missouri.
Inscription
Roman Catholic Priest, Diocese of Jefferson City and Archdiocese of St. Louis
PASTOR, ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL, Jefferson City, MO
Gravesite Details
Roman Catholic Priest in Diocese of Jefferson City, MO
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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