A memorial Mass for Father Donald Buhr will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Seven Holy Founders Church, 6741 Rock Hill Road in Affton. Father Buhr died Sept. 14 at the age of 79. He was a longtime pastor and priest for 53 years.
Born in St. Louis to John and Aurelia (Craden) Buhr, Father Buhr attended St. Louis Prep Seminary, Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 26, 1966, at the Saint Louis Cathedral by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter.
His first assignment as a priest was assistant pastor of St. Justin Martyr, Sunset Hills (1966). He also was assistant pastor of Little Flower, Richmond Heights (1966-71); associate pastor at St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles (1971-77); associate pastor at Assumption, St. Louis County (1977-83); and associate pastor at Holy Cross in St. Louis (1983-87).
In 1987, he became pastor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, Crestwood (1987-96); pastor of St. Sabina, Florissant (1996-97); senior associate pastor of St. Mary Magdalen, Brentwood (1998-2000); pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, Florissant (2000-05); senior associate pastor, St. John the Baptist, Gildehaus (Villa Ridge) (2005-09); pastor, Our Lady of the Holy Cross, St. Louis (2009-15).
In 2015, he retired with residence at Seven Holy Founders Parish in Affton. He moved to Regina Cleri in 2018.
Father Buhr donated his body to science.
