Rev. William J. Wargel, 75

Rev. William J. Wargel, 75, passed away unexpectedly on July 1 2015, while attending a conference in St. Louis, MO, with several brother priests of the Diocese of Evansville.

He was born in Evansville on Nov. 14, 1939, to the late Charles F. and Olivia (Ritzert) Wargel. The family attended Sacred Heart Parish in Evansville, and Bill attended Sacred Heart Catholic School, graduating in 1953. He attended high school, college and theological seminary at St. Meinrad Archabbey, graduating in 1957, 1961 and 1965, respectively.

Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman of Evansville ordained him to the priesthood on May 27, 1965. He began his priestly ministry on the faculty of Magister Noster Latin School. He later served on the faculty of Reitz Memorial High school, and also served as director of Memorial’s ministry program.

Father Wargel served a number of parishes across the diocese, including St. Joseph in Jasper as assistant (appointed in June of 1969), Holy Spirit in Evansville as associate pastor (appointed in August of 1973), St. Clement in Boonville as pastor (appointed in July of 1980), Holy Redeemer in Evansville as pastor (appointed in July of 1986) and St. Ferdinand in Ferdinand as pastor (appointed in March of 1999). He also served a three-year term as Dean of the diocese’s Newburgh Deanery, and served on the diocese’s Priests Senate and Council of Priests. He retired from active priestly ministry in November 2004.

Family and scores of friends from across the diocese gathered May 24 at Holy Redeemer Parish in Evansville for a Jubilee Mass and reception in honor of his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

He is survived by three brothers: Charlie (Beverly) Wargel of Saginaw, MI, Tom (Rose Mary) Wargel of Louisville, KY and Dr. James (Pauline) Wargel of Rochester Hills, MI; three nieces, Jean Wargel, Emily (Jake) Lomax and Carmen (Dr. Ryan) Wargel Fringer, two nephews, Mike Wargel and Jeff Wargel, two grandnieces, Amelia Fringer and Morgan Lomax and two grandnephews, Samuel Fringer and Peyton Lomax.

There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 918 W. Mill Road, Evansville, IN 47710, with Very Rev. Bernie Etienne, Vicar General of the Diocese of Evansville, as principal celebrant. Interment will follow in the Priest’s Circle at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, where there will be a memorial service conducted by the church at 7:00 P.M. Friends may also visit with the family from 9:00 A.M. until service time on Wednesday at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Reitz Memorial High School, 1500 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN 47714, to the Olivia Ritzert Wargel Endowment, for library improvements at Westside Catholic School, c/o the Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, 4200 N. Kentucky Ave, Evansville, IN 47724 or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.

Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com..