MADISON — Reverend Father Laverne G. Meier entered eternal life on August 7, 2021, at the age 90, at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg. He was born on December 5, 1930, the fifth of seven children to Leo and Rose (Wagner) Meier and Baptized at St. Peter Church in Ashton. Father Meier attended Catholic grade school in Ashton and St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee.
Father Meier was ordained to the priesthood at St. Raphael Cathedral in Madison in May of 1958. He began serving in the Diocese of Madison as a parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish, Bloomington, and then at St. Luke Parish, Plain. He then served as the chaplain for St. Coletta School in Jefferson. Father Meier became pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish, Seymour, with the mission of St. Peter Parish, Elk Grove, followed by pastorates at St. John the Baptist Parish, Muscoda; St. Mary Parish, Bloomington, with the mission of St. John Parish, Patch Grove; and Ss. Anthony & Philip Parish, Highland. Subsequently, Father Meier was in-residence at St. John the Baptist Parish, Waunakee, during his clinical pastoral education at Meriter/Park Hospital, and later served as chaplain at Meriter/Park Hospital. Father Meier later served as pastor of St. Thomas Parish, Montfort, with the mission of St. John Nepomucene Parish, Castle Rock, and then at St. Norbert Parish, Roxbury, from which he retired from full-time active ministry as pastor emeritus. Father Meier also served as the chaplain for Knights of Columbus Council #7811 in Mazomanie. Following his retirement, he lived at All Saints Neighborhood in Madison where he continued to say daily and weekend Masses.
Father Meier is survived by his sister, Fidelis Endres and sister-in-law, Suzanne Meier. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Leonard, Cyril and Joseph Meier; sisters, Marilyn Acker and Charlotte Dorn; brothers-in-law, Robert M. Endres, Gregory Acker, and Joseph Dorn; and sisters-in-law, Margaret Ripp and Carolyn Meier.
Father Meier thanks almighty God for the many blessings he received throughout his lifetime – good parents, brothers and sisters, a good Catholic home, the Catholic cchooling from the Sisters at Ashton and the seminary, the many loving and devoted people he served, and the graces of his Catholic Faith.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Catholic Church (Ashton), 7121 County Road K, Middleton, on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at 11 a.m. The Most Reverend Donald J. Hying, Bishop of Madison, will celebrate the Holy Mass, with The Reverend Father Richard Leffler as homilist. Recorded live streaming of the Funeral Mass will be available through St. Peter Catholic Church at https://youtu.be/LeD0N_YFGP8 A visitation at St. Peter Catholic Church will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m., with recitation of the Rosary at 7 p.m., and before the Funeral Mass from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Burial will take place at St. Peter Parish Cemetery following the Funeral Mass. To view and sign this guestbook, visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com