Father Richard Von Ah

Father Richard Von Ah, 70, died on January 3, 2006, at Genesis East in Davenport.
He was born in Clinton, Iowa, to Bernard Von Ah and Mary Von Ah (Hirsch).
Fr. Von Ah graduated from St. Mary High School in Clinton and attended St. Ambrose College, Davenport, where he earned a B.A degree in 1954. He entered Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1958, by Bishop Ralph Hayes at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.
Fr. Von Ah served as an assistant at St. Patrick Church in Ottumwa from 1958 to 1965 and at St. Patrick Church, Burlington, from 1965 to 1967. He was appointed Administrator of St. Mary, Dodgeville, and St. Mary, Kingston, from 1967 to 1968.
Fr. Von Ah served as Associate Pastor of two parishes: St. Mary, Iowa City, from 1968 to 1970, and St. Joseph, DeWitt, from 1970 to 1973. He was appointed Pastor of four parishes: St. James, Toronto, and St. Patrick, Big Rock, from 1973 to 1977; and St. Irenaeus, Clinton, from 1977 to 1983. He also served as Co-Administrator for St. Mary, Bryant, from 1979 to 1983 until his appointment as Pastor of St. Mary, Bryant, from 1983 to 1988. Fr. Von Ah has been on medical leave since 1988.
Surviving are two sisters: Karen (Michael) Hansen, of Preston, Iowa, and Gloria (Richard, deceased) Leiber, of Hot Springs, Ark. Survivors also include one uncle, Rev. Robert Hirsch, and 10 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The Wake service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, January 5, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home in Davenport followed by visitation until 8 p.m. Visitation will also be held at Holy Family Church in Davenport from 9:30 a.m. Friday, January 6, until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Msgr. Michael Morrissey and Msgr. John Hyland will be concelebrating the Mass.