Rev. Daren J. Zehnle, JCL
Deceased: 2025-11-27
Diocese: SPRINGFIELD IN ILLINOIS
CSM Graduation Year: 2016
Fr. Daren J Zehnle of Quincy, Illinois suffered a stroke Wednesday, and died early Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2025, at St. John’s Hospital Springfield, Illinois.
Fr. Zehnle, 47, served from 2024 to the present as the director of campus ministry and as an adjunct professor of theology at Quincy University. He also served as the spiritual director for Great River TEC (Teens Encounter Christ).
Fr. Zehnle was born in Quincy on March 26, 1978, the son of George W. “Bill” and Patricia (Szarka) Zehnle. He was a 1996 graduate of Quincy High School, a 2000 graduate of Quincy University, and a 2005 graduate of the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, IL on May 28, 2005, for service to the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Father Zehnle desired to be a priest from an early age. As a child in grade school, he expressed his feelings to his Aunt Mary, who encouraged and supported him as he pursued the priesthood. Even as a child, he loved serving at the altar of the Lord at any Mass that he could.
He had many interests, including studying family genealogy, reading, and traveling, especially to Hawaii. He had a substantial social media presence, including his regular weather reports. He loved Quincy, Dr. Pepper, J.R.R Tolkein, Venerable Augustus Tolton, St. Marianne Cope, St. Damien of Molokai, and Hawaii and its people.
He served as parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham, Illinois from July 2005 through September 2009, where he also taught at St. Anthony High School and was assistant coach to the boys’ soccer, wrestling and track teams.
In September 2009, he became pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Virden, Illinois and St. Patrick Parish in Girard, Illinois, also becoming pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Auburn, Illinois in July 2010. Father Zehnle served as pastor of all three parishes until January 2011.
He served as Priest Secretary and Episcopal Master of Ceremonies to the Bishop and the Associate Director of the Office for Vocations from January 2011 through June 2013. He was sent for graduate studies in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy from 2013-2016. He served as parochial vicar at St. Agnes Parish in Springfield, Illinois, Associate Director of the Office for Divine Worship and the Catechumenate, and Chief Master of Ceremonies to the Bishop from 2016-2017.
He served as pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Ashland from 2017 to 2024 and as pastor of St. Peter Parish Petersburg, Illinois from 2019-2021. From 2017 to the present, Fr. Zehnle served as Director of the Office for Divine Worship and the Catechumenate, Adjutant Judicial Vicar, as a judge in the diocesan tribunal, as Episcopal Delegate for Matrimonial Concerns, and as a Censor librorum. He was also currently in post graduate studies for the degree of Master of Arts in Liturgy, at the Liturgical Institute, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois.
For what would be his last pastoral assignment, he returned home to serve his beloved Quincy University. He greatly loved QU’s students and has a special connection to the lacrosse team.
Fr. Zehnle also regularly provided sacramental assistance at all of Quincy’s Catholic parishes. Fr. Zehnle was a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, having a special love for the Holy Land.
Fr. Zehnle touched countless lives throughout his ministry as a priest. He had a passion for the liturgy and a great devotion to the Holy Face of Manoppello in Italy. Please pray for the repose of his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed. To honor him would be to live a faithful life in the Catholic Church. He will be greatly missed by many. He taught us and showed us the heart of Jesus Christ.
Survivors include: A brother, David Zehnle; a nephew, Matthew Zehnle, and his uncle Robert J. “Bob” Reckers. Cousins, who were like siblings, Robert S. “Rob’ Reckers, Denise Poepping, and Daniel J. Reckers.
In addition to his parents, Father Zehnle was preceded in death by his twin brother in infancy; his aunt, Mary Reckers, who raised him from an early age as one of her own; and a cousin, Brian W. Reckers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 12:00 P.M. at St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, IL.
Visitation will be on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Quincy University Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the Venerable Augustus Tolton Shrine in Quincy, the Great River TEC Program, or to Quincy University.
Service arrangements are with Duker & Haugh Funeral Home.
