Obituary: Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt

Father Sylvester Matthias Kleinschmidt, 97, died July 18 at Fairway Pines Senior Living, Sauk Centre. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, July 23, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Church in Sauk Centre. Bishop Donald Kettler will officiate the Mass. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 22, and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. Monday evening at the church.

Sylvester Matthias Kleinschmidt was born March 22, 1922, to Joseph, Sr. and Margaret (Laubach) Kleinschmidt. He was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1950, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud by Bishop Peter Bartholome. Father Kleinschmidt celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of the Angels in Sauk Centre June 4, 1950.

Father Kleinschmidt was associated with many churches throughout his pastoral career including St. Olaf in Elbow Lake, Sacred Heart in Glenwood, St. Bartholomew in Villard, St. Ann in Brandon, St. Francis Xavier in Sartell, St. Henry in Perham, St. Francis De Sales in Belgrade and Sts. Peter and Paul in Elrosa.

He enjoyed fishing, golfing, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends. He celebrated his golden jubilee on June 3, 2000, and his 60th anniversary in 2010. He was a priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud for 69 years.

Survivors include his twin sister, Cecile Zehrer, and sisters-in-law, Trix Kleinschmidt and Jeanette Kleinschmidt, all of Sauk Centre.

Father Kleinschmidt was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ollie and Joseph; sisters, Anna Mae Pfeninger, Millie Vener and Betty Lou Kleinschmidt; brothers-in-law, Rich Vener, Bob Pfeninger, and Connie Zehrer; niece, Margaret “Peggy” Klick; and nephews, Randy, Ronnie, and Joel Kleinschmidt.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Holy Family School in Sauk Centre and the Our Lady of the Angels Christian Mothers. Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.

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Author: The Central Minnesota Catholic

The Central Minnesota Catholic is the magazine for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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