Catechetical author, photographer Carl Pfeifer dead at 78

Published: 2007-07-26

DUBUQUE, Iowa (CNS) -- Carl J. Pfeifer, a photographer, author and former Jesuit priest, died of Alzheimer's disease July 12 at Stonehill Care Center in Dubuque. He was 78. Pfeifer donated his body to the University of Iowa College of Medicine for research. Memorial Masses for him were scheduled for July 28 at St. Martin Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa, and Aug. 18 at Our Lady, Queen of Peace in Arlington, Va. Born June 22, 1929, in St. Louis, Pfeifer was a member of the Missouri province of the Society of Jesus for 29 years. On Nov. 20, 1976, he married Janaan Manternach, a former Sister of St. Francis of Dubuque, at Holy Trinity Church in Washington. Widely known as a lecturer on catechetics and religious education throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Guam and Central America, Pfeifer wrote numerous religion textbooks and single-title books on catechetics, theology, prayer, meditation and the saints.

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