Date of death: 4/21/2023
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1953
Reverend Kenneth L. Kamber, passed on Friday, April 21, 2023 at the Nazareth Home. Born June 29, 1927, he was baptized at Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Louisville, Kentucky. Father attended Saint Elizabeth for elementary school, Saint Xavier in Louisville and Saint Mary in Marion County for high school, and Saint Mary for college. He attended Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Saint Meinrad, IN for major seminary. He was ordained a priest on May 30, 1953. Father completed a sabbatical at North American College in Rome, Italy in 1991.
Following ordination, Father Kamber served as a pastor at Saint Mary, Hillview (founding pastor), Saint Martha, Saint Benedict, Lebanon Junction; as an administrator at Saint John the Baptist, Rineyville and Saint Ambrose, Cecilia, and Saint Clare, Colesburg; and as an associate pastor at Holy Cross, Louisville, Saint Gregory, Samuels, Saint Leonard, and Saint James, Elizabethtown. Father also served as an assistant chaplain for the Nazareth Motherhouse and the Archdiocese of Louisville as a board member on priests’ council (three terms) and as Vicar for Clergy for twelve years. As Vicar and to-date, Father served on the Senior Priests’ Committee. After retiring, Father ministered to parishioners at Saint Michael, Louisville, 23 years—from June 1997-2020 as a Senior Associate (not an official appointment).
Father Kamber was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph William (Joe) and Lillian Irene (Oppel) Kamber, three brothers—Joseph, David, and Stanley, and four sisters—Evelyn Rudolph, Rita Hanke, Ardella Gaines, and Geraldine Heitlauf.