A funeral Mass for Msgr. James Pieper was celebrated Aug. 6 at St. Clement of Rome Church in Des Peres. Msgr. Pieper died Aug. 2. He was 93.
He was born on Oct. 21, 1931, in St. Louis to Frank and Rose (Wessels) Pieper. He was baptized on Nov. 1, 1931, at St. Anthony of Padua in St. Louis. He attended Cathedral Latin School, St. Louis Prep Seminary, Kenrick Seminary and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He was ordained a priest on April 6, 1957, by then-Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter at the Cathedral of Saint Louis. His first assignment was as associate pastor at Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights (1957-62). In 1961, he was appointed to the staff of the archdiocesan tribunal. In 1962, he went to Rome to pursue graduate studies in canon law.
He returned to St. Louis in 1965 and served as part-time associate pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Brentwood (1965-69) and Most Precious Blood Parish in Lemay (1969-80) while continuing work with the archdiocesan tribunal. He was appointed pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in St. Louis in 1980. In 1989, he became administrator then pastor of St. Clement of Rome Parish, where he served until retirement in 2014.
Msgr. Pieper also served as vicar for religious for the archdiocese (1970-77) and chaplain at Ursuline Academy (1977-80). He was named a prelate of honor by St. Paul VI in 1977 and given the title monsignor.
In retirement, he lived at a private residence, Regina Cleri and Mother of Good Counsel Home.
