Reverend Aloysius J. Vorwald

Reverend Aloysius J. Vorwald

Dyersville

Reverend Aloysius J. Vorwald passed into eternal life on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Mercy One Senior Care in Dyersville, Iowa.

Visitation for Rev. Vorwald will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, July 14, 2025, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa where Deacon David Sallen will hold a scripture wake service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held for Rev. Aloysius at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa, with Archbishop Zinkula officiating. Homilist will be Rev. Dennis Quint. Several Priests from the archdiocese will be concelebrating. Burial will be held in St. Boniface Cemetery in New Vienna, Iowa.

Father was born on May 25, 1938 in Dyersville, Iowa son Raymond and Amelia M. (Smith) Vorwald. He had fond memories of attending #9 Edison school (K-3), St. Francis Xavier (4-8th), and then Xavier High School. In retirement he resided in an apartment created from his 12th grade homeroom!

He graduated from Loras College in 1960 and completed his theological studies at Mount St. Bernard Seminary (1964) both in Dubuque. While at Loras he studied two summers at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. On May 30, 1964 he was ordained at St. Raphael Cathedral in Dubuque by Archbishop James J. Byrne. He served his first solemn mass on May 31, 1964, at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville.

During his 61 years of service to the Lord he has served as Associate Pastor at several parishes: Immaculate Conception in Charles City; St. Mary’s in Marshalltown where he also taught at St. Mary’s High School and Lenihan High School. He was also the Chaplain at Mercy Hospital in Marshalltown 1964-1970 (while at the hospital he taught nursing students medical ethics). He was then Associate Pastor at St. Patrick’s in Cedar Rapids 1970-1973, Holy Cross Parish 1973-1977; while there he also served on the faculty for Leo High School. He was then assigned to St. Mary’s in Manchester and was also part of the Directorship of St. Paul School of Religion, Manchester 1977-1983; then at Resurrection Parish in Dubuque 1983-1985.

From 1985 to 1995 he served as Pastor of St. Patrick’s in Epworth. During this time, he cared for his elderly mother in the rectory and thoroughly enjoyed her company for 7 years. Especially her “secret card parties” that would be held when he would leave for day meetings. She would phone Silker’s and order lunch for the ladies! What a good son!

He served as pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Independence and all Saints Parish in Rowley from 1995-2005. From 2005 until 2008, when he retired, he served as pastor at John Paul II Pastorate which includes both St. John the Evangelist Church, St. Patrick’s Church in Winthrop and also was in charge of St. Patrick’s in Oratory, Monti.

In all these assignments, he found time to hit some golf balls, play cards, go out to eat and to relax. If you look through the archives he ministered at hundreds of funerals, weddings and sacraments. He was able to make one trip to Rome.

Fr. Vorwald “retired” in July 2008. He remained extremely busy filling in for area priests and accepting long-term assignments for special circumstances until 2022. He also assisted in hearing confessions for area parishes, Catholic schools, and CEW weekends. He demonstrated special pastoral care for the aged by providing the Sacraments at Shady Rest in Cascade and MercyOne Senior Care in Dyersville, until March 2023.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus…1975-Chaplain Knights of Columbus Dyersville Council, 2008-2022-Chaplain Knights of Columbus for the Dyersville Council; Friar Chaplain for 4th Degree Council, 2019 he was State of Iowa Knights of Columbus Chaplain of the year.

He is survived by a sister-in-law, Ethel Vorwald of Placid, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother; a sister, Rosemary Strang; two brothers, Wilfred Vorwald and Paul Vorwald; a sister-in-law, Darlene Vorwald; a brother-in-law, Tom Strang; and nephews, Stephen P. Vorwald and Michael F. Vorwald.

Thomas Edison school (K-3), was a quarter mile west of the Vorwald farm on the south side of Old Hwy. 20 in rural Dubuque County.

While at the country school, Fr. remembers that Alma Gerken was a teacher. She had an old car and during the winter she would need to go out and start it. At the end of the day it was not unusual for her to have the students push her out onto Old Hwy. 20 where she would pop the clutch and it would start. Some of the older boys could be found stuffing snow into her tailpipe. One day students were throwing snowballs at cars on Hwy. 20. One of the cars was the school superintendent…he turned around and came back to the school. That was the end of that fun!

In 2008, friends from Winthrop took Fr. on a trip to New York City. His hotel was on Long Island. He wanted to attend a Yankee’s game as it was the last year for old Yankee Stadium. He was able to attend the Old Timers’ Game. He visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Statue of Liberty.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.

Memorials for Rev. Vorwald may be given to Beckman High School in Dyersville, Iowa.