Southern Nebraska Register
Father John Keefe, a retired priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, died Oct. 11. He was 82.
“I was in to see him on Monday,” Bishop Conley said in a statement Oct. 12. “I prayed with him and gave him the apostolic pardon. He was thankful for all of our prayers on his behalf.”
He added that Father Keefe was “a great priest with a missionary heart, especially for our Hispanic brothers and sisters.”
Father Keefe spent 10 years serving the diocesan mission in Venezuela, and 10 years serving Cristo Rey Parish in Lincoln, known as “Padre Juan.” The Spanish-language community was formally made a parish during Father Keefe’s tenure.
Father Keefe was born in David City but moved to Lincoln as a child. He attended Pius X High School in Lincoln as a sophomore the first year it opened. He graduated from Creighton University in 1963 and entered Creighton Law School, but discerned a call to the seminary.
Father Keefe was the first priest Bishop Glennon P. Flavin ordained in the diocese, June 1, 1968.
Father Keefe also served as assistant pastor in several parishes, and as pastor at parishes in Rulo and Arago, Prague and Plasi, Aurora and Giltner, and St. Patrick Parish in Lincoln. He taught at Bishop Neumann High School in Wahoo and was senior priest in residence at Sacred Heart Church in Crete.
Father Keefe also served as the spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement for four and a half years.
Father Keefe, who retired from active ministry in 2013, marked the 55th anniversary of his ordination this spring. In an interview with the Register in 2018 when he celebrated his 50th anniversary, he said, “I’ve always enjoyed working in parishes and being pastor of a parish.”
A rosary will be prayed Thursday, Nov. 2 at Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home, 4040 A St., Lincoln. Bishop Conley will celebrate a funeral Mass Friday, Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Risen Christ, 3500 Sheridan Blvd.
Father Keefe is survived by a sister, four brothers, nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
