Special to The Message
Reverend William “Bill” J. Dietsch, 82, senior priest of the Diocese of Evansville, died Nov. 10 at North River Nursing Home in Evansville. Father Bill was born Oct. 9, 1943, to the late Edward and Marie (Hasenour) Dietsch in Gibson County, Indiana. Surviving are sisters, Bernadette Dietsch and Judith Gorman; niece, Elizabeth (Kevin) Besing; nephews, Michael (Jennifer) Dietsch, Paul (Karen) Gorman, and Thomas Gorman; and great niece and great nephew, Julian and Mirabelle Dietsch.
Father Bill studied at St. Mary’s College, St. Mary, Kentucky, and at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained a priest Dec. 18, 1971, at St. Wendel Parish by Bishop Francis R. Shea.
He loved serving the people of God, and he was a proud veteran of the United States Navy. Father Bill’s roots were important to him: He loved the land he lived on, and he faithfully worked in the vineyard of the Lord for 54 years. He loved serving on retreats, sharing God’s message of love and shared freely from several joke books for which he was known and loved.
His first appointment was at St. Theresa Parish in Evansville in August 1972. Subsequently, he served as Associate Pastor, St. Agnes Parish, Evansville, including a teaching assignment at Mater Dei High School, and Director of Christian Young Adults. In July 1978, he served as the Associate Pastor at Holy Cross Parish, Fort Branch. In June of 1979, he became Pastor of Mary, Help of Christians Parish in Mariah Hill.
Father Bill served on the Priest’s Senate and was appointed a Diocesan Consultor in January 1983. He served at Nativity Parish in Evansville as Pastor for three years from 1987-1990. For six years, he served as Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Petersburg, followed by a term as Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Poseyville. He added Holy Angels Parish in 2003. In 2004, he returned as Pastor to Mary, Help of Christians Parish in Mariah Hill, and St. John Chrysostom in New Boston.
Father Bill retired from active ministry in 2008, but he continued to serve at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville until he could no longer do so.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Nov. 18 at St. Wendel Catholic Church in St. Wendel, with Bishop Joseph M. Siegel and priests of the Diocese of Evansville officiating. Interment followed in St. Wendel Church Cemetery.
Look for full coverage of Father Dietsch’s Mass of Christian Burial in the Nov. 28 issue of The Message.