Fr. Pfeffer

Fr. Thomas Pfeffer Fr. Thomas J. Pfeffer, retired priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines, died early Friday morning at Mercy Medical Center. The cause of death was complications from a cerebral hemorrhage. Fr. Pfeffer was born in Des Moines on February 27, 1934, the son of Edward and Elizabeth (Witte) Pfeffer. He graduated from Holy Trinity School and Dowling High School in Des Moines and Loras College in Dubuque. Upon completion of studies at Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, he was ordained on June 5, 1960 at St. Ambrose Cathedral. In 1962 he completed an additional two years of graduate studies in Rome, Italy. In his 44 years of ministry Fr. Pfeffer served in a wide variety of assignments: assistant pastor of St. Augustin Church in Des Moines from 1960-1963; teacher at Dowling High School from 1963-1974; director of Youth Ministry from 1978-1979 and the Permanent Diaconate from 1978-1982; pastor of St. Boniface Church in Waukee and St. John Church in Adel from 1979-1985; pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Atlantic from 1985-1991; sabbatical for advanced studies in Spanish, Bolivia and Guatemala in 1991; pastor of Visitation Church and Guadalupe Chapel in Des Moines from 1992-2000; associate pastor of Visitation/Guadalupe and coordinator of Holy Family Inner-City School from 2000-2002. He retired from formal ministry in 2002, but continued to be active in ministry to the Hispanic community of the Des Moines area. Fr. Pfeffer is survived by two brothers, Fr. Edward Pfeffer of West Des Moines and James (Carolyn) Pfeffer of Gravois Mills, MO; a sister, Janet Fiala of West Des Moines; five nieces; four nephews and their children. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., May 3 at Our Lady of the Americas, Visitation Catholic Church in Des Moines, followed by a Vigil Service at 8 p.m. An all-night vigil will be observed at the church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 4. Burial will be at 3 p.m. in the Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic, IA. Because parking space may be difficult to find on Tuesday morning, carpooling is recommended. Also, shuttle-bus service will be provided from Visitation and St. Augustin Churches between 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. before the Mass and 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. after the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Holy Family School Inner-City Youth Foundation, P.O. Box 8437, Des Moines, IA 50301. Vaja con Dios, Padre Tomas!