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Reverend Victor L. Wilkiemeyer

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Mount Mary University Saint Mary's College St. Mary's University

Victor Wilkiemeyer Obituary

San Jose

May 10, 1916 - September 14, 2006

The Reverend Victor L. Wilkiemeyer, a retired priest of the Diocese of San Jose and founding pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish in Santa Clara, in Sunnyvale, California at the age of 90, passed away Thursday, September 14, 2006. Born on May 20, 1916 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to the late Dr. Fred J. Wilkiemeyer and Mary Gertrude Bockwede, Fr. Wilkiemeyer is the third of four sons, the youngest among whom also became a priest. His first assignment as priest was associate pastor, from 1943 to 1944, at St. Mary's Church in Stockton, California where he developed the St. Aloysius Boys Club into a boxing club for underprivileged youths. The Club won more than its share of the Golden Glove awards held annually in San Francisco. Their boxing gym was the finest in the Stockton area. Subsequently, he was appointed associate pastor, from 1944 to 1946, at the Church of the Annunciation, also in Stockton, which later became the cathedral when the diocese of Stockton was created. While at Annunciation, he also served as the chaplain of the Catholic Newman Club at the College of the Pacific and auxiliary chaplain of the Navy and Marine Corps students at the College. In 1959, Archbishop Mitty appointed Fr. Wilkiemeyer to establish a new parish which comprised the southern tip of the city of Sunnyvale and the northern part of the city of Santa Clara. Situated near Lawrence Expressway in Santa Clara, the parish was placed under the patronage of St. Lawrence the Martyr, a deacon who was one of the patrons of the city of Rome. He retired as pastor of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish on September 1, 1985. He is survived by his niece, Diana Wilkiemeyer of San Francisco; and two nephews, Philip Wilkiemeyer of Crockett, California and Mark Wilkiemeyer of Atlanta, Georgia.

The Services for Father Wilkiemeyer are as follows: Tuesday, September 19, 2006. Visitation from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Funeral Vigil and Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, September 20, 2006. Disposition of the remains will be by cremation. All services will be held at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish, 1971 St. Lawrence Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95051.

Fr. Wilkiemeyer has asked that, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Fr. Wilkiemeyer Endowment Fund of St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Record on Sep. 19, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Victor Wilkiemeyer

Sponsored by Father's friend, Larry Fargher.

16 Entries

Richard Allen Anderson

January 26, 2021

Father Wilkiemeyer was my priest when I was a third grader at St. Lawrence school. He was a very friendly priest that would swing me through his legs after church.

Lord Jesus,
Bless Father with your presence while he sleeps, awaiting your return to be caught up together in the sky for the heavens. Until then, we will all be reunited.

Manuel Garibaldi

October 26, 2018

Thank you Fr. Wilkiemeyer for the spiritual guidance you gave to me and my family.

John Hoskins

October 23, 2006

Father Wilkiemeyer was many things to me, my parish priest, He married me, I served as an alter boy for him. He was my boss for many years and my favorite thing with father was playing golf. On numerous occasions we had the pleasure of hitting that little white ball around. In one case Frank Dirksen and I were sitting in the Rec office after a days work drinking a beer. Father came in and told us not to move and he would be right back. We thought we were in such trouble. In he walked with a 6 pack of Anchor Steam Beer and said we had to drink good beer, father did stay and have a beer or two with us. God Bless him!

Larry Fargher

October 7, 2006

I was sorry to be in Europe when Father died,
I wish I had prayed for him in the Sistine Chapel.

We will miss him.

Laure Fargher Vierra

October 7, 2006

Father was a dear man and very close to my parents for many years. I am alumni from the great schools he built and was married in the church and baptized my children there. They also made their First Holy Communion's at St. Lawrence and both graduated from SL Middle school. If that not enough, I also am staff, so I'd say Fr. Wilkie has blessed my family's lives very much. I am sure he was welcomed into Heaven with open arms and the "Ladies Guild" surely had one of their fun parties planned.
Thank you Father, you blessed many lives and will be remembered for many years to come.

John Casey

September 21, 2006

Father Wilkemeyer always beleived in me, even when I did not. This is a huge loss to the church, and many of us personally.

Jill (Wilson) Marks

September 20, 2006

Thank you, Fr. Wilkiemeyer for founding the wonderful school, Lawrence Adademy. Many of my happiest memories are there. May you rest in peace.

Virginia Heikkinen

September 20, 2006

My brother, John Dour (deceased), was a president of Catacomb's Club. My sister, Rosemarie (also deceased) was a charter member. I tagged along and had so much fun under Father's guidance. He was a big presence in many lives.

Ginger (Dour) Heikkinen

Snoqualmie Washington

Virginia Johnson

September 19, 2006

I still remember Father Wilkiemeyer coming over to our house on Cabrillo Avenue to tell us that he was going to build a new church across the street from us. My mother who did not drive was so happy. I was just a little girl. He built a beautiful church and wonderful community for us all. I told him in 1996 at the funeral for my pastor at St. Frances Cabrini that he had kept many of my generation on the straight and narrow road and he was grateful to get the feedback. I chose to join St. Frances Cabrini as an adult because it felt so familiar. I didn't find out until Father Essig's funeral that he and Father Wilkiemeyer were great friends for decades and that is why St. Lawrence and St. Frances Cabrini were so similar in style and community.

I also still remember the pink cloud story that Father would tell the children when they made their First Communion. He also gave a sermon when I was just a child about not stealing someone's reputation by gossip that I have tried to live my life by.

May God rest his soul.

David Lytle

September 19, 2006

Father Wilkiemeyer accomplished much and affected the lives of many during his time on earth. As a parishioner of St. Lawrence in Santa Clara I was one of them. May he rest in peace.

Cheryl Cash

September 19, 2006

I graduated from St. Lawrence in 1983. Then I worked as a part-time secretary for the parish house while I attended college. During this time, I got to know Fr. Wilkiemeyer from another perspective. He was truly a kind man and he always appreciated the work that I did.

Larry Coleman

September 18, 2006

I was an Altar Boy at St. John the Baptist parish in the late 1940's and served many masses for Father. He was a magnificant and generous leader (arranged Altar boy trips to Santa Cruz boardwalk, winter snow trips and purchased a large supply of white tennis shoes so the servers had a nice neat unifom look on the altar. He was so successful influencing people and businessmen to support his vision of a youth club for the area(Catacombs Club). I recall working many hours on the renovation of the surplus buildings that became the wonderful clubhouse with poolroom and snackbar; and helping to construct the swimming pool, which my siblings and I enjoyed during our teen years. He showed great determination and skill in having Catacomb Club members and parents put on annual talent shows at the Richmond Auditorium to raise funds for our benefit. I don't know how he did it but each year he was able to arrange for Hollywood stars to come perform (Jimmy Dirante for one)Looking back, he made things happen so easily. During my adult years I have often recalled what a dynamic person he was and the great things he accomplished at St. Johns. He had a profoundly positive influence on many youngsters in the Parish. Thanks

Rosemary Anctil Murray

September 17, 2006

Father was my Pastor and I was a member of the Catacombs. My father was working on the swimming pool project when he passed away Oct 20, 1952 The pool was dedicated to him.

Rosemary Anctil Murray

September 17, 2006

Father was my Pastor and Confirmed me. I was a Catacomb, The swimming pool was dedicated to my father, Edward L. Anctil who died on the project Oct 20, 1952 God Bless Their Souls.

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