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Rev. Albert M. Fosselman

Deceased: 2013-06-23

Diocese: RENO

CSM Graduation Year: 1975

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Fr. Al Fosselman passed away June 23, 2013 at Rosewood Rehabilitation Center in Reno, Nevada after a long illness. He was born in Waverly, Iowa to Bernard Peter Fosselman and Maria Dolores Lizama Arevalo. He was raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota and later in Salinas, California where the family moved in 1946. At the age of six Al suffered a major illness, and after being hospitalized for many months and being anointed with what was then known as the “last rites,” he recovered. From that time on the family felt that he was destined to be a priest. Al attended school at Ryan Pre-seminary in Fresno and graduated in 1950. He attended major seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio and completed his studies at Mount Angel Seminary in 1960. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1960 at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, Nevada. He then continued his education in Canon Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and the Gregorian in Rome.

As a priest of the Diocese of Reno, Fr. Al served in many parishes in Nevada, including St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, St. Teresa of Avila in Carson City, St. Ann in Las Vegas, Our Lady of the Snows in Reno, St. Robert Bellarmine in Fernley, Our Lady of Tahoe in Zephyr Cove, St. Mary in the Mountains in Virginia City and, most notably, as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi at Incline Village, from 1976 to 1989. During most of the time he served in those parishes, Fr. Al also served the diocese as Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal from 1967 to 1988.

Fr. Al is predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Louis and Peter Fosselman. He is survived by his sister, Dolores Baldwin, of Greenville, California, numerous nieces and nephews and two stepsisters. Fr. Al was a kind and gentle soul who loved his faith, his priesthood and his family.

Viewing and visitation will be on Monday, July 1, 2013 from 6:00pm to 7:00pm at Walton Funeral Home, Sierra Chapel at 875 W. 2nd Street in Reno. A vigil rosary service will begin at 7:00pm. The following morning the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 at St. Therese Church of the Little Flower, at the corner of Kietzke and Plumb Lanes in Reno, with interment to follow at Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery in Reno.