ALTON — Father Victor Kaltenbach, 78, parochial administrator of St. Lawrence Parish, Greenville, died Jan. 18 in the Rosewood Care Center in Alton.
He was born Feb. 11, 1934 on his family's farm in Liberty, one of six children of Alois and Marguerite (Schmidt) Kaltenbach.
Father Kaltenbach was valedictorian of his 1952 graduation class from Liberty High School. He attended Western Illinois University on a full scholarship for three years, majoring in physics, chemistry and mathematics, before becoming a member of the Springfield diocese's first class at its Latin School. He completed his seminary studies at Mundelein Seminary, and was ordained a priest by Bishop William A. O'Connor on May 26, 1962. He celebrated his 50th Jubilee as a priest last May.
Father Kaltenbach served as an assistant at St. John the Baptist, Quincy; St. Mary, Alton; St. Aloysius, Springfield; and St. Patrick, Decatur; as a parochial administrator at St. Mary, Marshall, and as pastor at St. Michael, Greenfield; St. Catherine, Hagaman; and St. Patrick, Springfield.
He served as parochial administrator at St. Lawrence in Greenville for a year (1994-1995), as pastor (1995-2009), and again as parochial administrator there (2009-present).
In 1994, he became chaplain at the Greenville Federal Correction Institute, and celebrated Mass there every Sunday afternoon, until most recently.
Survivors include his brothers and sisters: Wilfred Kaltenbach of Naples, Fla., Vernon Kaltenbach of Quincy; Marcella Fessler of Quincy and Sabina Fessler of Fowler; many nieces, nephews; and his friend and caregiver, Carol Giesen of Godfrey.
Father Kaltenbach was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Mary Davidson; two sisters-in-law, Pat Kaltenbach and Connie Kaltenbach; and two brothers-in-law, Dale Fessler and Roger Davidson.
Bishop Thomas Paprocki was to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial Jan. 24 at St. Brigid Church, Liberty, with Fathers Jeffrey Stone, David Peters and William Hembrow concelebrating. Internment was to be at St. Brigid Cemetery, Liberty. Memorials are suggested to St. Brigid Church or to St. Brigid Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are with the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home, Quincy.