Fr. Clarence E. Wiederholt
Fr. Clarence E. Wiederholt
Fr. Clarence E. Wiederholt
1930-2023
Father Clarence E. Wiederholt, 93, of Conception, Missouri, passed away on October 27, 2023 at St. Stephen’s Infirmary at Conception Abbey, Conception.
Father Clarence was born on January 5, 1930, in Conception, Missouri, to the late Valentine G. and Mary B. (Bliley) Wiederholt. He had 11 siblings. Eight siblings preceded him in death: Gerald Wiederholt, Raymond Wiederholt, Alphonse Wiederholt, Donald Wiederholt, Marvin Wiederholt, Rosalie Wiederholt, Lucille Wiederholt, Dorothy Wiederholt, Sister Marie Frances Wiederholt, CPPS and Vincent Wiederholt. He is survived a brother, Robert Wiederholt, along with many nieces and nephews.
He received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Abbey Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Conception. Father Wiederholt attended Immaculate Conception School in Conception from 1936-1940, St. Patrick School in Maryville from 1940-1944 when his parents moved to Maryville, and Immaculate Conception Seminary High School in Conception in 1944-1948. He then attended Immaculate Conception College Seminary from 1948-1952, receiving a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Education in 1952. Father Wiederholt continued his studies at Immaculate Conception Theology Seminary in Conception from 1952-1955. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Joseph on December 21, 1955 at St. Patrick Church, Maryville, Missouri, by the Most Reverend John P. Cody, Bishop of St. Joseph. Bishop Cody appointed him in January 16, 1956 as assistant pastor at the newly formed St. Pius X Church, Moberly. This parish was created from the former St. Mary Church for the Irish and Immaculate Conception Church for the Germans. After six months in his first assignment, the Diocese of Jefferson City was created in July 1956, and Father Wiederholt became the youngest of its founding fathers as well as the last founder to pass away.
Father Wiederholt entered the U.S. Air Force for chaplain training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, June 3, 1959. He served through 1968 as chaplain at Air Force bases across in the U.S. And Germany and achieved the rank of Major.
Upon completion of his military service, Father Wiederholt returned to his pastoral duties within the Diocese of Jefferson City until his retirement. He served 15 parishes during his life as a priest not including his pastoral assignments in the military. Father Clarence moved from Jefferson City to Conception Abbey’s St. Stephen Infirmary on June 6, 2023.
Visitation will take place at 10:30 a.m., November 3 at Conception Abbey. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. With Abbot Benedict Neenan, OSB as the celebrant and Rev. Mark A. Porterfield as the homilist. Seminarians of Conception Seminary College will serve as pallbearers. Burial will immediately follow the funeral in the Abbey Cemetery in Conception, where member’s of Father Wiederholt’s family are buried.
