Date of death: 2/15/2013
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1957
Father Louis S. Heitz, 81, Cridersville, Ohio, died at 9:32 a.m. Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio surrounded by loving family.Born Nov. 5, 1931, in Fort Jennings, he was the son of Otto and Rose (Stauterman) Heitz, who preceded him in death.Father Heitz attended Minor Seminary at Saint Meinrad in St. Meinrad, IN, and Major Seminary at Immaculate Conception in Conception, MO. Father was ordained on April 6, 1957, in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Conception, MO.Father Heitz had been a resident of Otterbein Independent Living in Cridersville, Ohio for the past 10 years where he continued his priestly ministry saying Mass for residents who were fondly known as his parishioners. Father also continued to administer the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. During this time, niece Jean (Steve) Hull and nephew David (Debbie) Heitz became an integral part of his daily life allowing Father to continue his service to the church.The following were Father Heitz’s church appointments: April 24, 1957, assistant pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas in Lafayette; June 12, 1957, assistant pastor at Saint Ann, in Lafayette; May 28, 1963, director of Catholic charities; July 15, 1966, administrator at St. Joseph in Delphi; Sept. 4, 1974, pastor at St Joseph in Elwood; Aug. 1, 1981, pastor at St. Lawrence in Muncie; July 1, 1996, pastor at St. Joseph in Winchester.He is survived by three sisters, Mary (Virgil) German, Joan (George) Ross and Betty Grace; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Heitz; 21 nieces and nephews, 47 great-nieces and nephews; and 28 great-great-nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by one sister, Catherine Heitz; three brothers, Robert, Frank and Ralph Heitz; and a brother-in-law, Oris Grace.On Wednesday, his body will lie in state at his home parish, St. John’s Evangelist Church, 331 E. 2nd St., Delphos, Ohio, beginning at 9 a.m. Immediately following is a Mass of Christian Burial scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Most Reverend Bishop William Higi, Lafayette, officiating and Father Michael McKinley of St. Joseph, Winchester, as homilist. Burial will follow in The Resurrection Cemetery in Delphos. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, at Harter & Schier Funeral Home, located at 209 W. 3rd St., Delphos, Ohio, with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m.Memorial Contributions will be used to say Mass for Father Louis.From the Kokomo Tribune.