Date of death: 7/13/2013
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1949
Rev. William Peil, 88, passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2013. He was a priest of the Diocese of Gary for 59 years and before that for seven years of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. He was born in August of 1924, in Fort Wayne. Father Peil, after attending St. Mary’s Elementary School and Central Catholic High School, both in Fort Wayne, attended Sacred Heart Seminary, in Fort Wayne, St. Lawrence Seminary, in Mt. Calvary, Wis., Saint Meinrad Seminary, in Southern Indiana, and was ordained a priest at the age of 24 on June 11, 1949 at The Cathedral of Fort Wayne. His assignments of assistant pastor were at St. Mary’s, in Crown Point; St, Joseph’s, in Hammond; St. Michael’s, in Schereville, (where he also assisted Msgr. Campagna at Hoosiers Boys Town); Queen of all Saints, in Michigan City; St. Mary’s, in East Chicago; and St. Patrick’s, in Chesterton. Pastorates were at St. Ann’s, in Black Oak (Gary) from 1965 to 1967; Holy Rosary, in Gary from 1967 to 1971; Sacred Heart, in Wanatah; St. Martin’s, in Lacrose from 1973 to 1983; and St. Bridget’s, in Hobart from 1983 to 1985. He served on the diocesan Liturgical Commission, and was for a number of years diocesan chaplain of the Legion of Mary and the Christian Family Movement. He was the author of the book, “Teen-age Spirit,” and a number of articles in newspapers and magazines, along with seven booklets on Christian living entitled, “The Rainbow Series. After retirement, he spent seven years as a priest in residence at St. Patrick Parish, in Terre Haute, Indiana, and then moved back to his hometown of Fort Wayne, where he provided assistance in parishes when needed. Survivors include three nephews, a niece, and numerous cousins. Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17 at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 2155 Randallia Drive, with visitation one hour prior. Father Lawrence Moran officiating. Visitation also from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at D.O. McComb & Sons Lakeside Park Funeral Home, 1140 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne, with a Vigil at 8:30 p.m. Burial in Catholic Cemetery. “