Rev. Msgr. Roy M. Klister
Deceased: 2016-09-25
Diocese: GREEN BAY
CSM Graduation Year: 1987
Msgr. Roy Klister, 73, died on Sept. 25, 2016 following a long illness.
Msgr. Klister was born in Wrightstown on Aug. 22, 1943, the youngest of four children of Elzear and Matilda (Van Eperen) Klister. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 1969, by Bishop Aloysius Wycislo at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay.
Fr. Klister’s first appointment was assistant pastor at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, Green Bay. From 1970 to 1976, he was a member of the faculty at Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida, where he taught science and music and served as associate dean of college students. In 1976, he was appointed vice chancellor, and from 1977 to 1981, he served as vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay.
In 1977, Pope Paul VI raised him to the dignity of papal chaplain (monsignor). He served in many capacities at the diocese, including serving terms as a member of the priest personnel board, the diocesan board of consultors, and the presbyteral council. He also served as director of personnel, and as judge of the marriage tribunal in the Diocese of Green Bay and the inter-diocesan tribunal of the Province of Milwaukee.
In 1987, he was appointed president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Braintree, Mass. In 1991, he was appointed the dean of studies at Mount St. Mary Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., in charge of graduate programs in theology.
In 1993, Msgr. Klister returned to the Diocese of Green Bay and was appointed pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Green Bay. In 1999, he was appointed rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and St. John the Evangelist Parish, Green Bay.
In 2003, he served as director of graduate programs at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Ill. From 2005 until 2010, he returned to serve as rector of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and astor of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Green Bay. After entering senior priest status, Msgr. Klister served as priest celebrant for several Green Bay parishes, including Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, St. Jude and St. Patrick.
Msgr. Klister valued education throughout his life. Prior to ordination, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Oneida, and St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., where he earned a B.A. in philosophy as well as an M.A. in teaching of science from St. Thomas University, St. Paul.
In 1974, he received a certification in French language and culture from Sorbonne University, Paris, France. In 1976, he earned an S.T.L. degree from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at St. Anselmo, Rome, Italy, and, in 1977, a J.C.L degree in Canon Law at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. In 1992, he earned a doctorate in sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy, Rome.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29, in the Bishop Wycislo Center at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. led by Fr. Thomas Farrell. Visitation will continue on Friday morning at the cathedral from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral liturgy.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral with Bishop David Ricken as celebrant, and Fr. Richard Getchel serving as homilist. Burial will follow in St. Paul Cemetery, Wrightstown.
