Submitted by: Dan Rich

Msgr. Otto J. Keller

June 9, 1894 - Jan. 17, 1963

South Bend Tribune 1/18/1963

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Otto J. Keller, pastor and former assistant pastor of St. Bavo’s Catholic Church here for the entire 40 years of his priestly life, died at 1:45 a.m. today in St. Joseph Hospital. He had been in the hospital since New Year’s Day. Msgr. Keller’s status of never having been transferred from one parish to another is unique in the annals of the Fort Wayne diocese, established in 1857, and re-designated the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese in 1960. At the time of his death he was one of nine Monsignors serving as diocesan consultors to Most. Rev. Leo A. Pursley D.C. bishop of the diocese.

Msgr. Keller was ordained by Bishop Alerding in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne on June 10, 1922, one day after his 28th birthday. On June 28 of the same year he was appointed assistant to the late Rev. Achielle Schockaert at St. Bavo’s, and five years later he was named pastor when Rev. Schockaert retired and returned to his native Belgium. Msgr. Keller observed the 25^th anniversary of his ordination in June 1947. Among those assisting him at the jubilee high mass was a brother, Rev. Nicholas Keller, now deceased. Another brother, the late Rev. John C. Keller, served as pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church here from 1925 until the time of his death in February 1929.

Msgr. Keller was only the third pastor to serve St. Bavo’s in its 60 year history. The church was organized in 1903 with Rev. Charles L. Stuer as the first pastor. Father Schockaert succeeded Father Stuer as pastor in 1912.

Msgr. Keller was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. On June 9, 1894, and attended St. Nicholas Parochial School there, before entering St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Ind. He took his theological studies at St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati and graduated from there in 1922, shortly after his ordination.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Francis Williams and Mrs. John Frank, and one brother Louis T. Keller, all of Wilkes-Barre.

Friends may call in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home after 2 p.m. Sunday and until 2 p.m. Monday when the body will be taken to St. Bavo’s Catholic Church to lie in state until the time of services at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Bishop Pursley will offer the requiem high mass. Rev. Arnold J. Wibbet, of St. Matthew’s co-cathedral will be sub-deacon, and Rev. William Ehrman, of St. John the Baptist, of New Haven, Ind. will be the deacon.  Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Mishawaka.

Pallbearers will be Rev. Leo A. Hoffman, pastor of St. Monica’s Church; Rev. Joseph P. Horvath, pastor of St. Stephen Church, South Bend; Rev. Martin A. Horvath, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, South Bend; Rev. Albert Van Nevel, pastor of Notre Dame Church, Michigan City; Rev. Mathias Bodinger of Fort Wayne; and Rev. Aloysius Sobcziak, of St. Mary Magdaline Church, Roseland, Ohio.