Reverend John W. Acrea

Reverend John W. Acrea, 89, of West Des Moines, passed away on September 4, 2025, at Deerfield in Urbandale, Iowa.

Visitation will be on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 5:00–7:00 PM, with the Rosary at 7:00 PM, St. Joseph Chapel, Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, Iowa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, September 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM, Basilica of Saint John, Des Moines, Iowa. A private interment will be at Mount Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Missouri Valley, Iowa.

Born on February 7, 1936, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, to Harry and Anne (Kirlin) Acrea, Father John experienced a profound conversion in high school after reading The Quest for Happiness. This realization of God’s love set him on the path to priesthood. He was ordained a priest on June 3, 1962.

He pursued his calling by studying at Mt. St. Bernard Seminary and Creighton University, earning a master’s degree in education with a minor in English at the request of Bishop Edward Daly, to serve at Dowling High School in Des Moines. He served as a teacher for nine years, then principal for one year, followed by further study in Rome at the North American College, before returning to teach another three years at Dowling. Despite initially disliking English, he grew to enjoy teaching, also becoming a debate coach who led his teams to four state championship titles and a national fifth-place finish.

Father John's pastoral assignments included service at St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale, St. Cecilia Parish in Panora, and St. Mary Parish in Guthrie Center. In 1980, he returned to Dowling Catholic, serving at both the High School and St. Joseph Education Center for nine years. From there, he resumed parish ministry at St. Ambrose Cathedral, St. Mary/Holy Cross in Elkhart, Holy Spirit Parish in Creston, and St. Edward Parish in Afton.

In his role as diocesan Vocations Director, Father John was instrumental in revitalizing recruitment. From just three seminarians, he expanded outreach efforts and even launched a pioneering website, vocationsonline.com, to engage youth digitally. He later served as a director of spiritual formation at St. John Vianney Seminary in Minnesota before retiring in 2007. He also was Chaplain to the St. Serra Club of Des Moines, IA from 1998-2004, which is now the second largest Serra Club in the world.

Even in retirement, he remained active in ministry, celebrating Masses, hearing confessions, assisting retreats, and participating at Dowling Catholic and diocesan events; just recently, he participated in the Radix retreat for high school seniors.

Father John is survived by his brothers, Mark Acrea and Harry (Joyce) Acrea, as well as several nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his parents listed above, and sisters Shirley (Bill) Allen, and Beverley Acrea.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Dowling Catholic High School.