Devine, Father William P.

Father William P. Devine, 84, of Eldora, formerly of Ryan, died Wednesday, May 31, 2012. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 5, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 3, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Eldora, with a 7 p.m. rosary, and 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ryan. Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Ryan. Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Manchester is in charge of the arrangements.

Father William Devine was born July 29, 1927, to William and Amelia (Kirschbaum) Devine in Ryan, Iowa. He matriculated at local public and Catholic schools. After graduation from Loras College, Dubuque, he attended St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, and was ordained a priest in April 1952.

After serving parishes at St. Mary, Marshalltown; St. Patrick, Cedar Rapids, and Sacred Heart, Osage, he taught at Loras Academy, Dubuque, where he began efforts to obtain a Master of Arts degree. In 1962, he acquired his master's degree from Catholic University, Washington, D.C. Father Devine fulfilled requests from the state for a Catholic chaplain at the Boys Training School, Eldora, and the Juvenile Home in Toledo in 1959, and also served in that capacity at the Girls Training School, Mitchellville, from 1975 to 1981.

After serving as pastor of St. Mary, Eldora, from 1982 to 1987, he accepted an assignment to the Mens' Reformatory at Anamosa and St. Joseph Parish, Stone City. He resigned from active ministry in 1992 and had resided in Eldora since 1992.

Father Devine is survived by a brother, Bernard Devine of Manchester; a sister, Rosemary (Robert) McAleer of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.

Father Devine was preceded in death by his parents, William and Amelia Devine.

Please sign the online guest book for Father Devine at www.murdochfuneral

home.com under obituaries.

Published June 1, 2012 in The Gazette