Date of death: 8/23/2021
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1967
Father Joseph E. Mader was born on May 27, 1940 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Sylvester G. and Marie (Koesters) Mader. He died in the Lord on August 23, 2021.
He attended elementary school at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Michael the Archangel in Indianapolis. After graduating from St. Meinrad High School, he continued at St. Meinrad for part of his college education. He also attended Butler University and Marian College in Indianapolis. He attended Notre Dame University in South Bend to complete his Master of Arts in Mathematics. His seminary formation included time at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, and St, Maur Seminary in Indianapolis and he graduated from St. Meinrad School of Theology.
Father Mader was ordained into the priesthood on May 7, 1967 by Archbishop Paul Schulte at St. Meinrad. His first Mass took place at St. Michael the Archangel, Indianapolis.
In 1967, he was appointed associate pastor of Holy Rosary and full-time instructor of the Latin School, both in Indianapolis. After completing his M. A. in Mathematics in 1967, he continued as a full-time instructor at the Latin School and as associate pastor of Holy Rosary. In 1978, he was granted permission to become a member of the faculty of St. Meinrad College. In 1983, he was appointed associate pastor of St. Charles Borromeo, Bloomington. In 1984, he was appointed pastor of St. Thomas More, Mooresville. In 1988, he was appointed associate pastor of St. Paul, Tell City, St. Michael, Cannelton, and St. Pius, Troy. In 1993, he moved to St. Lawrence, Indianapolis, where he provided sacramental assistance. He moved to Deerfield, Florida in 1995 where he was in residence at St. Ambrose parish. In 1999, he was in residence at St. Edward parish, Palm Beach, Florida. He was granted early retirement in 1999.
Survivors include his siblings, Kathleen (Michael) Dryer, Michael (Cheryl) Mader and Steve (Lynn) Mader; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester G. and Marie J. Mader; and siblings, Dave and Paul Mader and Rosemarie Dryer.