Rev. George F. Klepec
Deceased: 2012-03-17
Diocese: JOLIET IN ILLINOIS
ICTE Spring: 1998
Rev. George F. Klepec, age 73, Pastor Emeritus of St. Paul Parish in Joliet, is at rest on Saturday March 17, 2012, after a lengthy illness. Born on May 5, 1938, and baptized by Monsignor M.J. Butala, he was the son of the late Joseph (1949) and Mary (nee Stefanich) Klepec (1953) of Joliet. Preceded in death by a brother Joseph A. (1997); sisters Marie (1991) and Betty Klepec (2007), all of Joliet.
Survived by his sisters, Sister Elizabeth Marie, OSF (Dorothy), and Dolores “Lorrie” Klepec, both of Joliet, and many cousins in the U.S., Canada, and Slovenia.
Father George attended local schools: St. Joseph, Joliet; Joliet Catholic High School, class of 1956; Lewis University; and Joliet Junior College where he received the Robert M. Adam Award for academic achievement. He earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree at De Paul University, Chicago, in 1962; and a Master of Divinity Degree at Blessed John XXIII Seminary, Boston, in 1970. Father served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1962-1968 with active duty at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and Ft. Jackson SC.
He was also an associate in the Joliet law firm of Dunn, Stefanich, Mc Garry and Kennedy before entering the seminary. Following ordination to the priesthood by Bishop Romeo Blanchette in 1971 at St. Joseph Church, his assignments were at St. Michael Church, Wheaton; St. Patrick Church, Joliet; and St. Stanislaus Church, Kankakee, where he was administer of the Martin Luther King Education Center. After serving on mission in Mexico, he returned to head the Joliet Diocesan Spanish Apostolate from 1980 to 1985.
In the 80’s, Father George was the Will County Dean and Diocesan Delegate to the Catholic Conference of Illinois. He also served as chaplain of the Catholic Holy Family Society, St. Francis de Sales Society, K.S.K.J, and the Joliet Catholic Women’s League. In 1985, Father George was named pastor of St. Andrew Church, Romeoville, followed by assignments as pastor of St. Patrick Church, Joliet (1990); St. Joseph Church, Joliet (1995); and St. Paul the Apostle Church, Joliet from 2002 to 2009 when he retired for health reasons.
A mass of Resurrection for Father George F. Klepec will be celebrated on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. The family will receive relatives and friends at church from 10:00 a.m. until time of services. Interment to St. Joseph Cemetery, Joliet. Father George will lie-in-state at St. Joseph Church, Joliet on Thursday March 22, 2012, from 3-7 p.m. and again on Friday, March 23, 2012 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church from 3-7 p.m. There will be no visitation at the funeral home.
