John W. Kordsmeier

Rev. Msgr. John W. Kordsmeier age 87, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away Saturday, February 2, 2013. Born in Morrilton, Arkansas on May 13, 1925, Msgr. Kordsmeier was educated at Sacred Heart Catholic School before entering St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock. He was ordained May 26, 1949 by Bishop Albert Fletcher at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Little Rock. After ordination Msgr. Kordsmeier attended St. Louis University, receiving a Masters Degree in Education and upon returning to the Diocese was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Chaplain of Saint Joseph's Orphanage in North Little Rock. In 1953 he was appointed Superintendent of Schools and Diocesan Director of Hospitals. After serving faithfully on the diocesan level, he was named pastor of St. Mary Church, McGehee and its Mission in Dermott. His other parochial assignments were St. Mary, Paragould, Immaculate Conception, North Little Rock, St. Anne, North Little Rock, and St. John, Hot Springs. In 1978 he was appointed pastor of St. Jude, Jacksonville, and in 1989 was appointed to Mary Mother of God Church, Harrison. Msgr. Kordsmeier also served on a variety of diocesan boards, and served as a Diocesan Consultor. In May of 1998 he was named a Prelate of Honor with the title of "monsignor" by His Holiness John Paul II. He retired in 2000 and lived at St. John Manor until last week. Msgr. Kordsmeier possessed a very fine mind, and shared his gifts with the Church generously. Even in retirement, Msgr. Kordsmeier continued to serve the Church as a confessor and until this past year was a regular at visiting sick and infirmed priests. He died as he had lived, a very happy priest. He is survived by his sister, Clara Briggler and husband Fred of Morrilton, his sister-in-law, Marie Kordsmeier of Morrilton; his cousin, Sister Claire Marie Boehmer of St. Louis Missouri, his nephew, Father Greg Hart of Tontitown, Arkansas, and 35 other living nieces and nephews, and a host of great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents John W. Kordsmeier and Theresa Boehmer Kordsmeier; six brothers, Norbert, Victor, Raymond, Herman, Alfred and Lawrence Kordsmeier; two sisters, Monica Louise Kordsmeier and Christina Kordsmeier Hart; uncle, Rev. William Kordsmeier; first cousins, Rev. Msgr. Charles Kordsmeier and Sister Elizabeth Kordsmeier, S.S.N.D. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, February 7, 2013, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Most Reverend Anthony B. Taylor, Bishop of Little Rock, officiating; assisted by Msgr. Scott Friend and Rev. Gregory Hart. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery by Harris Funeral Home of Morrilton. Rosary will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 6, at Sacred Heart Church. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.