Father Gregory Lieser died on August 4, 2025, at Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta. He was 88 years old and a priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud for 62 years.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud on Sunday, August 10, with the vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday, August 11, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral upper church in St. Cloud, until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at the cathedral.
A dinner will follow at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church dining room beginning at 12 p.m. Burial will be Monday at 3 p.m. at the St. Martin Parish Cemetery, St. Martin.
Gregory Joseph Lieser was born on June 1, 1937, in St. Martin. He was the son of Bernard and Caroline (Garding) Lieser. He attended elementary District 63 country school, 6 years at Crosier Seminary at Onamia followed by 6 years at Saint John’s Seminary, Collegeville. Father Greg was ordained on June 1, 1963, at St. Mary’s Cathedral. He celebrated his first mass on June 2 in St. Martin.
Father Greg served in the following parish assignments in the Diocese of St. Cloud: associate pastor, St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, 1963 to 1968; dean of students and burser at Saint John’s Seminary, Collegeville, and dean of the deacon residency program, 1968 to 1976; pastor at Immaculate Conception, Becker, 1972 to 1973; Sacred Heart, Dent, 1976 to 1977; St. Anthony, St. Cloud, 1977 to 1988; St. Rose of Lima, St. Rosa, 1988 to 1989; Holy Angels, St. Cloud, 1989 to 1991; St Columbkille, St. Wendel, 1991 to 1994; and St. Peter, St Cloud, 1994 to 2007. Father Greg retired on June 28, 2007.
Father Greg also served in a variety of diocesan assignments: Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Presbyteral Council, director of Continuing Education for Clergy and director of the Permanent Diaconate programs, St. Cloud Hospital Board of Trustees, director of the Priest’s Personnel Board and Planning Commission, Marriage Tribunal, Cathedral High School Board of Trustees, moderator of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, and dean of the Wadena and St. Cloud Deaneries. After retirement he served as manager of Speltz House, the home for retired clergy.
He is survived by brothers, Father Vince, and Isidore (Alvina), sisters Bernetta Gresko (Larry) and Colette Pettit and sisters-in-law Bertha and Agnes Lieser. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Stanley and Hubert, brother-in-law Charles Pettit and niece Doris Dingmann.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.