Fr. Bernard W. Kahlhamer

Fr. Bernard W. Kahlhamer, 87 year old resident of Pierz, MN passed away Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at Highland Senior Living in Little Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, October 20, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pierz, MN with Bishop Donald J. Kettler officiating. Burial will be at St. John’s Parish Cemetery in Lastrup, MN. Visitation will be Friday from 4 to 8 P.M. and from 10 to 11 A.M. on Saturday all at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz. Prayer Service at 7 PM Friday evening. Bernard Walter Kahlhamer was born May 22, 1931 to the late Wendelin and Bertha (Zak) Kahlhamer, the first of six children. He attended district #36 two-room school in Lastrup, Minnesota. Then Little Falls High School, graduating in 1949. Then attended Crosier Seminary in Onamia, MN, and one year at St. Lawrence Seminary in Wisconsin before attending St. John’s Seminary where he was ordained June 6, 1959. He celebrated his first Mass in Saint John Nepomuk Church, Lastrup on June 7, 1959. Father Kahlhamer served in the following assignments: associate pastor, St. Mary of the Presentation, Breckenridge, June 1959-August 1961; Holy Spirit, St. Cloud, August 1961-July 1966; pastor, St. Joseph, Bertha, July 1966-June 1969; St. Peter, St. Cloud, June 1969-July 1980; associate pastor, St. Anthony, St. Cloud, July 1980-July 1982; pastor, Assumption, Morris, July 1982-July 1986; Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre, July 1986-July 2001; St. Lawrence, Duelm and St. Patrick, Minden, July 2001-June 2011. He retired June 30, 2011. Father Bernard served as Dean of the Sauk Centre Deanery 1994-2000 and was chaplain for the Catholic Community on Scouting June 1969-1976. He was a lifelong member of Boy Scouts, National Chaplin and attended National Jamborees in Japan and Oregon. He made at least a dozen trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area with Youth Groups from his Parishes. He loved to travel with his co-pilot, Fr. Virgil Braun, Bernie was the driver, and Virg the navigator. It was a well-known fact that he would not drive anything but a straight stick because someone told him it was more efficient. He had a penchant for oatmeal raisin cookies, but they had to be made with unfiltered honey. He said in his years in parishes he kept his sanity by spending Monday at Fish Lake. (No phone, No TV) Father Bernard is survived by his brother, Tony (Janice) Kahlhamer; sisters-in-law, Alice Kahlhamer and Virginia Kahlhamer and also many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wendelin and Bertha Kahlhamer; sister, Angeline; brothers; Roman, Andrew, and Sylvester; brother-in-law, Kenneth Henagan and sister-in-law, Minnie Kahlhamer.

Tributes

Fr. Bernard W. Kahlhamer

May 22, 1931 - October 17, 2018