Rev. Richard E. Jozwiak
Deceased: 2026-01-23
Diocese: SAGINAW
Seminary Graduation Year: 1960
ICTE Spring: 1981
Rev. Fr. Richard E. Jozwiak, a priest of the Diocese of Saginaw, passed away peacefully, Friday, January 23, 2026, at Wellspring Senior Living. Son of the late George and Veronica (Krawczak) Jozwiak, Richard was born December 9, 1931, in Saginaw, Michigan and attended St. Rita Elementary School and was a 1948 graduate of St. Joseph High School. In 1952 he began seminary training at St. Mary College, Orchard Lake, Michigan. In 1954, Bishop Woznicki appointed him to study at the Gregorian University in Rome with residence at the North American College. He was ordained in Rome by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor, December 20, 1959, and returned home to Saginaw for his first Mass at St. Rita Catholic Church, July 24, 1960. Fr. Jozwiak’s first assignment was to St. Hyacinth Church, Bay City, where he served as assistant to Msgr. C.T. Skowronski nearly five years. His pastoral appointments were the following: St. Agnes, Pinconning in 1965; St. Stanislaus, Bay City, in 1970; St. Michael, Pinconning, in 1979; Sacred Heart, Mt. Pleasant, in 1985; and St Josaphat, Carrollton, in 1991. After ten years of service at this last assignment and nearly 66 years of service to the Dioceses, he achieved Senior Priest status in 2001.
Following retirement, he continued to serve the Diocese in various parishes wherever needed. During his active ministry he also served as follows: Diocesan Director of Vocations; Diocesan Consulter; Vicar of Vicariates 8 and 12; Priests’ Senate; Diocesan Finance Council; Spiritual Director of Bay County League of Catholic Women and Men; Saginaw County League of Catholic Women; Diocesan Cemeteries Board; Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council #4232 since 2001; Life member Msgr. Horton 4th Degree K of C Council #2049; and Senior Priest representative on the board of the Priests’ Retirement Association. Since 1991 he also served as Catholic Chaplain at the Aleda E. Lutz V.A. Medical Center retiring in August of 2011 after 20 years of service. The priests of the Diocese honored him with the Francis Award during his pastorate at Sacred Heart Parish in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan in 1989. He was also admitted to the Catholic Schools Hall of Fame in 1998. He also served on the Dioceses of Saginaw 75th Anniversary Committee and the Planning for Tomorrow’s Parishes Committee. Fr. Richard was appointed Sacramental Minister for St. Frances Cabrini Church in Vassar, Michigan in 2012. He also served as Sacramental Minister at the Cathedral since July of 2018 and in January of 2019 he was assigned as Sacramental Minister at St. John Vianney Parish.
Surviving to cherish his memory are a nephew, Richard and Kathleen Nauer, Birmingham, Michigan; Jacqueline and Guy Yondo, Caledonia, Michigan; great nieces and nephews, Jonathan Nauer, Christopher and Nicole Nauer, Chelsea and Matthew Feller, Hailey and Paul TenHarmsel and their daughter Maya; and other family members. Fr. Richard was preceded in death by his sister, Iris J. Nauer and her husband, Leo Nauer and a brother, Robert G. Jozwiak.
Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, 615 Hoyt St., Saginaw, Michigan, The Most Rev. Bishop Robert D. Gruss will preside. Visitation will take place at the Cathedral on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and at the Cathedral on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. A Vigil Service will take place at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral. A private burial will take place in the Jozwiak Family plot in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Saginaw, Michigan. Memorials are requested for the Priests’ Retirement Association of the Dioceses of Saginaw which provides for Senior Priests in Saginaw.
