Father Thomas J. Imfeld

Father Thomas J. Imfeld , age 89, passed away on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, in Tennessee.
Thomas J. Imfeld was born on June 12, 1923, to Nicholas and Anna Meyer Imfeld of 315 Crescent Avenue, Covington, Kentucky, and was welcomed home by his older siblings, Idamae and Robert. He attended St. Patrick Elementary School and graduated from Holmes High School in 1941. After graduating from Holmes High, he worked at a wholesale grocery store for approximately one year, and then volunteered for service in the United States Marine Corps on the Feast of Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1942, in the height of World War II. He completed basic training in San Diego, and then was sent to the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) for approximately two years of active military duties. Imfeld returned to the states, sent by the Marine Corps to the University of Michigan in preparation for Officers School. While in Michigan, the war ended, and he received an honorable discharge from the U.S.M.C. Imfeld continued his education at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, on the G.I. bill, where he received his degree in education and administration. After college, he played professional baseball for five years, played on the world champion softball team for four years, and worked as an electrician in the off season. Following two, not so subtle calls (from above), he knew his vocation was to the priesthood. Upon completing the seminary education at Holy Cross (minor) Seminary in LaCrosse, WI, and St. Paul (major) Seminary in St. Paul, MN, Thomas Imfeld was ordained a priest of the Covington Diocese, on May 30, 1959, by the Most Reverend Paul Leibold, Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati.
Upon his ordination, Father Imfeld was assigned as assistant pastor at St. Mark Church in Richmond, Kentucky, and helped start the Newman Center at Eastern Kentucky University. He served in Richmond for about two years. When the pastor of the Cumberland and Lynch parishes had a heart attack,
Fr. Imfeld was asked to help out for a couple of months. This "temporary" assignment turned into a 22 year term as pastor at St. Stephen and Resurrection Parishes. He then moved on to Ravena, where he was pastor at Saint Elizabeth parish for nine years, and was instrumental in starting a parish in nearby Stanton and building Our Lady of the Mountains Church.
Fr. Imfeld "retired" in the early 1990's and came to Sacred Heart in Corbin at the request of Father Roger Arnsparger. In retirement, he continued to be a very active part of Sacred Heart's parish family.
Funeral mass will be conducted by Bishop Ronald Gainer at 11 am Saturday, November 10, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Lexington.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Thursday and Friday at the Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home. A Rosary will be said at 6:30 pm Thursday at the funeral home with an evening prayer service at 5pm on Friday.
Messages may be written at