MOCKSVILLE — Deacon John Otto Zimmerle, formerly of Statesville, went home to the Lord on Nov. 27, 2020. He was living with his daughter and son-in-law in Dingmans Ferry, Pa., and they were at his side when he passed.
Friends are invited to pay their respects at Davie Funeral Chapel in Mocksville, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksville, officiated by Father Eric Kowalski, pastor. Joining the service will be the U.S. Coast Guard to present military honors, as well as the VFW Memorial Honor Guard. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Salisbury.
Born in Passaic, N.J., on April 14, 1940, he was the son of the late William and Helen (Lenore) Zimmerle. He was a graduate of Ramsey High School’s Class of 1958 in Ramsey, N.J., and served with the U.S. Coast Guard as a Radioman Second Class Petty Officer on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Half Moon. He retired from the John Boyle Co., where he was an Eastern regional sales manager.
He served St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Mocksville from June 2001 to his retirement in October 2014. Deacon Zimmerle preached homilies and assisted at Mass, assisted with marriage preparation for couples, witnessed many marriages, served on the parish building committee, co-assisted on the oversight of the parish’s RCIA program, and held many more titles.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Ladis Zimmerle. He will be cherished by his children: John-Michael (Tami) of Spanish Fork, Utah; Susan Marie Cawley (Ron) of Dingmans Ferry; William Edward (Dawn) of Levittown, Pa.; and Mary Elyse Zimmerle of San Francisco; and 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his brother, William, and survived by his brother Alan (Joanne) of Manchester, N.H., and his sister-in-law, Cathy of Ringwood, N.J.; and a niece and nephew.
Memorials may be considered to the parish’s Knights of Columbus, Prayer Quilt Ministry or Food Pantry Ministry.
Davie Funeral Service of Mocksville is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
LENOIR — Father Gabriel Joseph Meehan passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir. He was 89.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church at noon Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, officiated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis. Father Meehan’s body will be received at the church at 10:45 a.m. Friday for a viewing from 11 a.m. until the Mass. He will also lie in repose from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, at The Padgett and King Mortuary in Forest City.
Born July 29, 1931, in Philadelphia, he began his studies at Holy Trinity College in Holy Trinity, Ala., and then studied at seminaries in Brackney, Pa., and Winchester, Va.
On May 19, 1959, he was ordained at Winchester as a priest for the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. In 1961, he became a Trappist priest at the Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard, N.Y.
After 12 years of monastic life as a Trappist priest, Father Meehan came to the Diocese of Charlotte in 1973 to pursue a more active priesthood. He served for a few months as an assistant at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and then served for three years as administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville. In July 1976, Father Meehan became pastor of St. Lucien Church in Spruce Pine. While serving there, he formally became a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte in January 1978. In July of that year, he was named pastor of Holy Infant Church in Reidsville.
Father Meehan also served as pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle and as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir, as well as vicar forane for the Hickory Vicariate. In June 1985, he was named pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City and served there until 2001, when he retired to Lenoir.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1024 W. Main St., Forest City, N.C. 28043.
The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory was in charge of arrangements, and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com.
— Catholic News Herald