Rev. James Kiernan

Reverend James W. Kiernan, 81, of West Des Moines, Iowa, died Sunday, May 15, 2016, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines, Iowa, by the Most Reverend Richard E. Pates, Bishop of Des Moines, on Monday, May 23, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial in the priests' section of Glendale Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the committal service at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus church hall located at the corner of Merle Hay Road and University Avenue in Des Moines. A Rosary will be recited at 2:00 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral on Sunday, May 22, after which family will receive relatives and friends until the Vigil Service at 5:00 p.m. He was born April 14, 1935 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the eldest child of five children born to John and Alice Watts Kiernan and was raised on the family farm near Booneville, Iowa. He attended Lee and Jefferson Township rural schools and graduated from Van Meter Community School, graduating in 1950. In his youth, he was stricken with bulbar polio, which attacked the upper part of the spinal cord and the brainstem, and usually resulted in death. He made a full recovery, which was rare with that type of polio. Father Kiernan graduated from Dowling Catholic High School, Des Moines, in 1954; Loras College in 1958 and Mount Saint Bernard Seminary in 1962, respectively, both located in Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on June 3, 1962 at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines by The Most Reverend Edward C. Daly, O.P., Bishop of Des Moines, and celebrated his first Mass in his home parish at St. Patrick's Church, The Irish Settlement, Cumming, Iowa. He completed further studies at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, receiving a Masters Degree in Education. Father Kiernan taught at Dowling High School until 1964, and then taught at St. Albert's High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he became principal in 1972. He was transferred to Des Moines and served as pastor at the Basilica of St. John until 1977 and was then appointed Pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Chariton, Iowa, and the surrounding Leon Regional Catholic Community. He became Coordinator of the Harrison County Team Ministry and Pastor of St. Patrick's Church in Missouri Valley in 1988. While serving this region he was the Director of The St. Thomas More Center in Panora, Iowa. In 1993, Father Kiernan moved to Council Bluffs to assume the role of Pastor of St. Peter's Church and oversaw the restoration of the church building. Following his pastoral role in Council Bluffs, he was appointed Rector of St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines where he directed the total redecoration of the interior, including the restoration of the Stations of the Cross, and served until his retirement in 2005. He was an exemplary priest and known for his devotion to the formation of faith in young people, which began with his ministry in Council Bluffs, Iowa and expanded at Holy Family School in Des Moines where he made a special effort to acquaint himself with all the students. Upon his retirement, Father Kiernan helped his fellow priests in the Des Moines Diocese by substituting for them at parish Masses. He was well-known for his unique homilies and his Irish sense of humor, and remained active in his ministry until the day of his death. He loved all things Irish, especially his home parish of St. Patrick's, The Irish Settlement, near Cumming, Iowa, and his trip to Ireland to visit his ancestors' home in County Westmeath where he celebrated Christmas Midnight Mass in a small rural church. He also had a great interest in family genealogy, automobiles and airplanes. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Experimental Air Association and National Priest Pilots. Father Kiernan is survived by his brother, Gary (Carol) Kiernan, Winterset, Iowa; sister, Mary Beth (Richard) Craven, Windsor Heights, Iowa; nieces, Anne Tealer and Lynn Kiernan; nephews, Brian, Mark, Tim, John, Matt, Dan, Peter and Michael Kiernan, Nate and Benjamin Shambaugh; sisters-in-law, Joan Kiernan, Sherry Kiernan, Sue Kiernan and JoAnne Kiernan; brother-in-law, Bill Shambaugh, and numerous great nieces, great nephews, cousins and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, John J. Kiernan; his mother, Alice Watts Kiernan; brothers, John Peter (Jack) Kiernan; and Thomas Patrick (Tom) Kiernan. Father Kiernan was beloved by his family and was a model of God's love in the world. He was a true inspiration for all those he served in his lifetime. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Holy Family School Foundation, The Priest's Pension Fund, or The Basilica of St. John Elevator Fund, all in Des Moines, Iowa.