Maximilian S. "Max" Kaiser Jr.

Maximilian 'Max' S. Kaiser Jr., fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church Monday, January 10, 2022, passed away from complications of cancer.

Beloved son of the late Max S. Kaiser Sr. and the late Mary Grace Kaiser (nee Walsh), dearest brother of Mary Grace (John P.) Thompson, Thomas W. Sr. (Gigi) Kaiser, and James W. (Sandra) Kaiser; dearest uncle of Sarah, Samuel, Daniel, Rebekah and the late Rachel Thompson; Natalie (Mike) Engel, Tommy Jr., Zach and Jonathan Kaiser; and Luke and Sophia Kaiser, dearest nephew of Patricia (Roger Sr.) Eschbacher, the late Msgr. Gerold Kaiser VG, Francis X. Sr. (Mary Jo) Kaiser, Leo M. (Aurelia) Kaiser, and Joseph M. II (Margie) Walsh, beloved cousin and friend of many.

Services: Visitation and funeral Mass will be held Saturday, January 15 at St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church, 744 S. Third St. 63102. Visitation at 9 a.m. with the Mass to follow at 11 a.m. Interment immediately following Mass at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery.

The live-stream link is https://portal.midweststreams.com/services/iframe/28229

Although Max worked frequently behind the scenes, he was well known in many circles throughout St. Louis for his devotion and service to the Catholic church, his encyclopedic historical knowledge of the city, his activities in historic preservation, his connection with his family's company (Mueller Kaiser Plating Company, prominent for refurbishing liturgical items), his enthusiasm for trains, his involvement in many worthwhile religious and civic organizations and charities, and his support of homeless and indigent military veterans.

Max had a multifaceted professional career that included working in public relations, advertising, sales and journalism for Monsanto; Kerlick, Switzer & Johnson Advertising; KMOX Radio; The Riverfront Times; Commerce Magazine; the St. Louis Suburban Journals; and Radisson Hotels in St. Paul, MN.

A former seminarian, Max's service in the 1990s as a Chaplain Reservist Officer in the United States Air Force led him to raise funds for many homeless and indigent veterans and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. His efforts, fueled by a passion that every person, especially those who served in the United States military, should be remembered with a dignified burial and memorial, resulted in Max providing over 70 veterans with proper burials and grave markers. His enthusiasm to preserve historic St. Mary of Victories was also high on his list.

Among his affiliations, Max was a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus and a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He was named a Pontifical Knight of the Holy Sepulchre and was a member of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Latin Liturgy Association. He also was active in Jaycees International, Toastmaster's International, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans of America, Optimists International, the United Way, and the Landmarks Association of St. Louis and was a member of the Missouri Historical Society, the VP Fair Executive Committee and the PR Society of America. Max was a founder of the National Catholic Museum of Art and History, the American Silver Museum, and a life member of the American Guild of Silversmiths.

Max was a proud graduate of Lindbergh High School and St. Louis University. He was a devoted Acolyte, sacristan, lector and docent at St. Mary of Victories Church for many years. He had similar roles at The Old Cathedral and many other historic Catholic churches in St. Louis.