A memorial Mass for Father Harold Voelker will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Seven Holy Founders Church, 6741 S. Rock Hill Road in Affton. Father Voelker died Nov. 26 at Mary Queen and Mother Center in Shrewsbury. At 97 years old, he was the oldest priest of the archdiocese at the time of his death.
Born in St. Louis on Sept. 27, 1928, to Bernard and Rose (Summerfeld) Voelker, he attended St. Louis Preparatory Seminary and Kenrick Seminary. Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter ordained him to the priesthood on April 3, 1954, at the Saint Louis Cathedral.
Father Voelker served as an assistant pastor at St. Michael in Shrewsbury (1954-60), St. Rita in Vinita Park (1960-65) and Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Louis (1965-70). He also was a teacher at Bishop DuBourg High School (1959-60) and at Corpus Christi High School in Jennings (1960-65).
He served as a pastor at Our Lady in Festus (1970-81), St. Timothy in Affton (1981-83), St. Joseph in Zell (1986-94) and St. George in Affton (1994-2002). After a brief medical leave, Father Voelker also served as an associate pastor at Ascension in Chesterfield (1984-86). He retired in 2002.
Father Voelker led the family life ministry of the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity, led the archdiocese’s ecumenical office and chaired efforts for the continuing formation of priests. In addition to his chaplaincy on the Cardinal Carberry Campus of Cardinal Ritter Senior Services in Shrewsbury, Father Voelker served in retirement with spiritual direction and as a confessor at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He also was a chaplain at Our Lady of Life Apartments and helped at Mother of Perpetual Help in Shrewsbury.
Father Voelker donated his body to Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
