William J. "Fr. Fitz" Fitzgerald

Msgr. William J. Fitzgerald was born on January 17, 1931, in Pinckney, MI, the son of William and Florence (Funsch) Fitzgerald. His early education took place in a one-room schoolhouse. His seminary formation occurred at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit and St. John Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, MI; later he did graduate studies at Michigan State University.

"Father Fitz" was ordained a Catholic priest on June 1, 1957, and served parishes and schools in the Diocese of Lansing until 1969, including two years as the Director of Instruction for the diocesan Catholic schools and a year as the secretary for Bishop Joseph Albers.

He was the beloved pastor of St. Joseph Parish (Kalamazoo) from 1969-1980, and St. Philip Parish (Battle Creek) from 1980-2001. He was also the Vicar for Christian Education of the Diocese of Kalamazoo from 1971-1979. After his retirement in 2001, he continued his priestly ministry as the Director of South Street House (Kalamazoo), the Vicar for Clergy, and as a spiritual director for many individuals, and at Sacred Heart Major Seminary (Detroit), and the Institute for Priestly Formation (Omaha). As a priest, counselor, and spiritual director he touched thousands of lives.

Msgr. Fitzgerald went home to God on July 14, leaving behind for now his brother Robert (Mary), and his nieces and nephews: Chriss (Christopher) Barndt; Michael (Penny) Fitzgerald; Marie Fitzgerald (Dave Cobabe); Jaci Fitzgerald (John MacMaster); Cathy (Dennis) Green; Steven (Mary) Fitzgerald; Meg (Dan) Rentschler; Patrick (Suzie) Fitzgerald, and Kevin Fitzgerald (who proceeded him in death in 1961) along with many great and great-great nieces and nephews and one great-great-great nephew.

Visitation will be held 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday & 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 105 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017. Visitation will take place at St. Philip Parish, 92 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017 on Thursday, July 16, from 4 pm to 9 pm, with a Vigil Service at 7 pm in the church. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine Cathedral, 542 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, on Friday, July 17, at 11 am, followed immediately by a luncheon. People in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek are requested to bring a salad or dessert for the luncheon, and to bring it to the Crowley Center before the funeral mass. A private burial will take place on Saturday at St. Patrick Calvary Cemetery, Brighton, MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent dePaul Society in your community, or to Ministry with Community, 440 N Church St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 / (269) 343-6073, www.ministrywithcommunity.org. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.