A funeral Mass for Deacon Joseph Sulze was celebrated April 10 at St. Peter Church in Kirkwood. Deacon Sulze died April 2 at the age of 87.
Deacon Sulze was married to Jane Venneman Sulze. They had two children, Johanna Shipley and Paul Sulze.
He was was ordained on Feb. 11, 1989, at the St. Louis Cathedral by Archbishop John L. May. He was assigned and assisted the pastor at St. Peter Parish in Kirkwood, where he served as a deacon until he retired in 2007.
Deacon Sulze served his parish by presiding at baptisms, funeral services, weddings and other liturgical functions as needed. Additionally, Deacon Sulze also visited nursing homes and made Communion calls to people who are homebound.
He was cubmaster and scoutmaster of Troop 323 at St. Peter Church, a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award and served on the Catholic Committee on Scouting. He volunteered with the pastoral care staff at Saint Louis University Hospital and was a chaplain at the Interfaith Chapel at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport.
Burial was in St. Peter Church Cemetery.
