Father Louis Fischer dies in San Diego at 83

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Louis Fischer dies at 83.

SALT LAKE CITY — Father Louis Fischer, 83, a native of St. Louis, Mo., died at Nazareth House in San Diego Feb. 6, 2009. He retired from the Diocese of Salt Lake City in 1987 and provided weekend ministry in San Diego until his health deteriorated over the last few years.

Fr. Fischer, the son of Louis Fescher and Caroline Wurst Fischer, graduated from Purdue University in 1944 with a degree in electrical engineering. He attended St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, earning a degree in philosophy in 1960. He earned his STB in 1964 from the Gregorian University, in Rome.

He was ordained for the Diocese of Salt Lake City Dec. 18, 1963 by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, rector of the North American College in Rome.

He served the Diocese of Salt Lake City at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns, and he taught at St. Mary of the Wasatch. He served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick Parish, Salt Lake City, and was director of vocations for the diocese from 1966-1974.

He also served as assistant pastor at St. Ann Parish, and was a counselor at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. He was administrator of St. Patrick Mission in Eureka. He was named pastor of Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Price in 1972, serving as dean of the Wasatch Deanery. He took a leave of absence Aug. 1979 to July 1980 to study further in Rome. He served as pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Kearns from Aug 5, 1980 to 1987.

Fr. Fischer retired May 1, 1995, and moved to San Diego, Calif., where he served weekend ministry.

The total Rite of Christian Burial took place Feb. 12 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Rancho Penasquitos. Prior to the Rite of Christian Burial, a viewing was held at 4 p.m., then a vigil service at 6:30 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m. The celebrant was Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, the homilist was Msgr. Frank Fawcett.

Fr. Fischer is survived by one brother who lives in California.