KALAMAZOO, Mich. (July 14, 2015) – Beloved diocesan priest, Monsignor William J. Fitzgerald, 84, passed away on July 14, 2015, after bravely battling declining health in recent months. Msgr. Fitzgerald (fondly referred to many by his nickname, “Fitz”) served as pastor for several parishes in the Diocese of Lansing and Diocese of Kalamazoo before obtaining senior priest status and retiring from active ministry in 2001. He was a spiritual director for many and was active in ministry for Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., and Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit.

“Msgr. Fitz was a man who loved Jesus completely, and who spent his entire life, down to his final conscious moments, bringing others to Jesus to help them experience that same love,” said Bishop Paul J. Bradley. “Even while on his deathbed, with his ever-present serene smile, there was a steady stream of people coming just to receive his blessing or to go to confession to him one last time. His spiritual directees throughout his 58 years of priestly ministry would probably fill up Comerica Park – home to his beloved Tigers. The breadth and depth of his impact on the Diocese of Kalamazoo and all the communities he served here and elsewhere throughout the Church so joyously will be realized for generations to come.”

Msgr. Fitzgerald was born in Pinckney, Mich., January 17, 1931 to William and Florence Fitzgerald. He earned degrees from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, St. John’s Provincial Seminary, Plymouth, Mich., and Michigan State University. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1957 for the Diocese of Lansing. He became a priest for the Diocese of Kalamazoo when the diocese was
founded in 1971.

Early in his priesthood he served in pastoral ministry at various parishes in Lansing as well as Msgr. O'Rafferty High School and the diocesan administration offices. He began serving as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Kalamazoo in 1969 and ministered there until 1980. He then served as pastor of St. Philip Parish in Battle Creek from 1980 until his retirement in 2001. In addition to his pastoral duties, Msgr. Fitzgerald served as Vicar for Christian Education from 1971 to 1979, and on the Presbyteral Council from 1995 to 1998. After his retirement in 2001, he continued his priestly ministry as the Director of South Street House in Kalamazoo, the Vicar for Clergy, and as a spiritual director for many individuals, and at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha.

Visitation will take place at Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home in Battle Creek. Please see their website, farleyestesdowdle.com/obituaries, for visitation hours. Visitation will also be held July 16, 2015 at St. Philip Parish in Battle Creek from 4 p.m.-9 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral on July 17 at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the Crowley Center. People are requested to bring a salad or dessert for the luncheon. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Brighton on July 18.

Msgr. Fitzgerald is survived by his brother Robert (Mary), and his nieces and nephews: Chriss (Christopher) Barndt; Michael (Penny) Fitzgerald; Marie Fitzgerald (Dave Cobabe); Jaci Fitzgerald (John MacMaster); Cathy (Dennis) Green; Steven (Mary) Fitzgerald; Meg (Dan) Rentschler; Patrick (Suzie) Fitzgerald, along with many great and great-great nieces and nephews, and one great-great-great nephew. Charitable donations in his memory may be made to: St. Vincent DePaul Society or Ministry with Community (Kalamazoo).