Reverend William A. Kalin

1933 - 2022

Reverend William A. Kalin

April 28, 1933 - February 23, 2022

On Wednesday last, Fr. Bill Kalin celebrated Mass with his brother priests, enjoyed breakfast, and returned to his room. There he passed away, suddenly. He was 88 years old, a priest of the Lincoln diocese for nearly 63 years. In some ways he was an ordinary parish priest. But in other ways he was extraordinary. His ministries included caring for the sick and dying and the imprisoned and impoverished across two continents, in Nebraska, Oregon, and Venezuela. He especially loved the poor and in the dry barrios of Barquisimeto, teeming with children, he labored for twenty years, first helping to establish a thriving parish, and then a school for children whose families were the poorest of the poor.

Fr. Bill was fun too. He loved to tell stories, often hilarious, about encounters with human folly, including his own. Ski slopes and blackjack were his outlet and he was good at both. His mother, Emma, prayed always - even that he would lose at blackjack. His father Ben, a pharmacist, rode a bicycle to and from work, sometimes with Bill on the handlebars. Together, Ben and Emma worked in deep faith to raise 10 children. All are gone now except the youngest, Mary Jo and brother-in-law Dr. Larry Rice of Omaha. Father Bill is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Earth will miss Fr. Bill Kalin, but heaven is jumping with joy. He's home at last!

Join us to celebrate the funeral Mass at Lincoln's Cathedral of the Risen Christ, March 3, at 11: 00 AM. Rosary precedes at 10:30. Burial at Calvary Cemetery. Lunch follows. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Villa Marie School, Matt Talbot Kitchen, or Propagation of the Faith. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Condolences can be sent to www.bmlfh.com