Rev. Msgr. Louis Bernard Moeller

Reverend Monsignor Louis B. Moeller, 83, of Ballinger passed away Monday, December 29, 2008 at Ballinger Memorial Hospital.

Msgr. Moeller was born December 13, 1925 to Joe C. and Mary (Multer) Moeller at Olfen, Texas. The family moved to Rowena in 1933. He completed 12 years of schooling at St. Joseph School in Rowena before entering the seminary.

He was ordained to the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Denver, Colorado on June 2, 1951. Msgr. Moeller began his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Amarillo where he pastored several Texas communities, including Amarillo, Happy, Tulia, Rowena, Stanton, Tarzan, Lamesa, O’Donnell, and Pep.

In 1962 when the Diocese of San Angelo was established, Msgr. Moeller served as pastor of Snyder, Odessa, Ozona, Big Spring, Sonora, Brownwood, Junction, Menard, Brady, Eldorado, San Angelo, and his last assignment, Ballinger. He has left his “mark” on every parish and community he has served. Since his official retirement in 1997 he had made his home in Ballinger and had recently been honored by the Pope with the title Monsignor.

He is survived by a brother, Maurice Moeller and wife, Dorine, of Rowena, and a sister, Ruby Hlavinka, of Texarkana. Also surviving are seven nieces and nephews and 19 great-nieces and nephews.

Rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, January 1, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rowena. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 2 at 10:30 a. m. also at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The Principal Celebrant will be Bishop Michael Pfeifer, O.M.I., Bishop of the San Angelo Diocese; the Principal Con-Celebrants will be Rev. Msgr. Larry Droll, Rev. Magnus Chilaka, and Rev. Hugh Wade. Other Con-Celebrants will be Rev. Msgr. Bernard Gully, Rev. Barry McLean, and other priests of the Diocese. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the St. Mary, Star of the Sea Scholarship fund or to the St. Mary Star of the Sea Seminarian burse or to a charity of choice.