Date of death: 12/20/2025
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1963
Fr. Leo C. Kiesel, 88, senior priest of the Diocese of Evansville, passed away at 6:33 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at The Villages of Oak Ridge.
He was born on October 15, 1937, in the family home at Haubstadt, Indiana, to the late Leo A. and Lorine (Martin) Kiesel. Fr. Leo was the 5th of 8 children.
Fr. Leo attended Saint Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, The Collegium Canisianum, a Jesuit International Seminary in Innsbruck, Austria, and the University of Innsbruck.
He was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on March 30, 1963, in Innsbruck. Returning home, he served full-time in the Diocese of Evansville until his retirement on January 1, 2003. He served at St. Mary, Holy Spirit, St. Agnes and Rex Mundi High School in Evansville; St. Martin in Chrisney; St. John in Newburgh; Saints Peter and Paul in Petersburg; Blessed Sacrament in Oakland City; St. John in Loogootee and St. Mary in Shoals. He also was the Dean of the Washington Deanery. In retirement, he assisted at parishes in Knox, Daviess, and Martin counties.
Fr. Leo was very active in the American-Innsbruck Alumni Association and served as its Secretary-Treasurer for 35 years. He had a great love of all things “Innsbruck,” a very formational time in his life and priesthood.
He enjoyed golf with friends, heeding always the advice of “Tip” O’Neill, “Hit til you’re happy!” He greatly appreciated the beauty of creation, especially the mountains, oceans, beaches, and all sorts of living critters, especially the multitude which fed on and around the deck of his home.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo A and Lorine Kiesel; brother, Ivan Kiesel, and sisters Elgene Bell, Vera Myer, and Sr. Mary Leon, O.S.B and Sr. Mary Jane, O.S.B. both of the Sisters of St. Benedict at the Monastery in Ferdinand, Indiana.
He is survived by his brothers Robert (Helen) and Donald (Lynn) Kiesel in addition to many nieces and nephews.
Also surviving are his “German” family, the Adolf Locher family of Tettnag, Germany, as well as the community of the Sisters of St. Benedict at the Monastery in Ferdinand, Indiana.