Fr. Roger Meitl | Obituary

The Rev. Roger Meitl passed away peacefully on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, KS where he resided since 2014. He was born April 3, 1933 to John and Bertha (Ypma) Meitl in Leoville, KS and was baptized by the late Father Martin J. Schmitt.

Roger’s grade and high school education was received in the Leoville parochial schools in which the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph of Concordia taught. He was encouraged to study for the priesthood in the Diocese of Salina by the Rt. Rev. Monsignor John Wolf and he began studies at Conception Seminary, Conception, MO, in September, 1951. There he followed the regimen of priesthood studies under the guidance of the Benedictine Fathers of Conception Abbey.

The last three years of his priestly training were spent at Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, MO, where he was taught by the Vincentian Fathers. As a student of Kenrick Seminary, Roger continued his interest in choir and glee club work. He was secretary of the Kenrick Mission Society and took part in activities of the Rural Life Society.

The Rev. Roger Meitl was ordained into the priesthood at the Immaculate Conception Church in Leoville, KS on Saturday, March 14, 1959. His First Solemn Mass was at the Immaculate Conception Church, Leoville, KS on Saturday morning, March 21, 1959.

After Roger’s ordination, he served in the following capacities:

• 1959-61, assistant at St. Mary, Queen of the Universe, Salina, KS and taught at Sacred heart High School
• 1961-62, assistant at Sacred Heart, Plainville, KS
• 1962-63, administrator at St. Wenceslaus, Wilson, KS
• 1963-67, administrator at Sacred Heart, Esbon, KS and St. Mary’s, Smith Center, KS
• 1967-73, administrator at St. Mary the Assumption, Clifton, KS and St. Bernard’s, Clara, as well as administrator of the mission, St. Michael parish, Kimeo, KS
• 1973-82, pastor at Sacred Heart, Colby, KS
• 1982-84, pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hays, KS and pastor of the mission church, Our Lady, Help of Christians, Antonino, KS
• 1984-87, pastor at St. Mary’s, Russell, KS
• 1987-93, assistant at St. John the Baptist, Beloit, KS; pastor at the mission parish St. Mary Church, Jamestown, KS (until it closed in 1989), and chaplain at Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, KS; St. Joseph’s Hospital and Mount Joseph Senior Village in Concordia, KS
• 1993-2005, pastor at St. Joseph’s, Oakley, KS; Immaculate Conception, Grinnell, KS and St. Paul’s, Angelus, KS
• 2000-2002, canonical pastor at St. Frances Cabrini, Hoxie, KS and St. Martin of Tours, Seguin, KS (oversight of international priests)
• 2002-2003, canonical pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Goodland, KS (substituting for pastor on sabbatical)
• 2003-2006, canonical pastor at Sacred Heart, Oberlin, KS; Sacred Heart, Selden, KS; and Immaculate Conception, Leoville, KS (oversight for international priests)
• 2005-2012, pastor at St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis, KS and St. Joseph’s, Bird City, KS

Roger celebrated his 50th year Jubilee in 2009. After 53 years of service, he retired to the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, KS. Roger enjoyed traveling and was fortunate to travel internationally several times. He enjoyed researching the genealogy of the Ypma’s and Meitl’s. Roger was pre-deceased by his parents, his sisters, Genevieve (Meitl) Campbell, Sister John Bosco (Jackie (Meitl) Kenney), brothers Sylvester, Gerald, Elmer, Ernest and Walter. He is survived by one brother Harold and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Paul’s Funeral Home in Oberlin, KS starting at 4:00 p.m. followed by the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be in Leoville, KS at the Immaculate Conception Church on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Roger will be laid to rest in the adjacent church cemetery next to his parents. Luncheon will follow in the Fellowship Hall at the church.

Memorials may be given to Immaculate Conception Church, Leoville, KS.