Rev. Timothy John Fitzgerald, 44, of the Marian Home and Village in Fort Dodge, and formerly of Boone, went to be with the Lord on March 11, 2008. He passed away at the Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames suddenly of complications of the neuromuscular disease, myotonic dystrophy.
A Funeral Mass celebrating Tim’s life will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Boone where Bishop R. Walker Nickless will preside. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Boone.
Rev. Timothy was born in Boone on January 9, 1964, the son of John A. and Helen (VanLent) Fitzgerald of Boone. He grew up on a farm north of Boone and graduated from Boone High School in 1982. After graduating from Briar Cliff College, Sioux City, Iowa, he continued his education toward priesthood at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, receiving his Masters of Divinity in 1990. Rev. Timothy was ordained a deacon in 1989 and ordained a priest in the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City in 1990. His first Mass was said from his home parish, Sacred Heart Church in Boone on June 3, 1990. He served as assistant pastor at Corpus Christi in Fort Dodge and Blessed Sacrament in Sioux City. He served as pastor in Gilmore City, Rolfe, Royal, and Everly.
Tim enjoyed music and dancing and was a member of the Boone High Swing Choir. He loved to travel, a highlight being his trip to the Vatican in Rome. His life was his family and friends. He will be remembered for his giving and loving nature and concern for those less fortunate.
Father Tim was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by three sisters, Shannon (Mike) Shearer, Maureen (Dewell) Hollingsworth, all of Boone, and Luann (Edward) Anderson of Adel; nieces and nephews; many aunts and uncles; special caretaker, Deanna Lane at the Marian Home; ladies from Sacred Heart Church who cared for him; many friends from the parishes he served and priests who visited and uplifted him during his long illness. He was especially blessed by his close support group of Rev. Brian Danner, Rev. Terry Roder, and Rev. Randy Schon and his sister, Maureen.
Friends may call at the Schroeder Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone on Friday from noon until 3 p.m. and then at the Church of the Sacred Heart on Friday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. at which time the family will be present to receive friends and a Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Visitation continues Saturday at the funeral chapel from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
Memorials may be given to the family to be used at their discretion.
Online condolences and a guestbook are available at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
