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Father Norman Clisch

FATHER NORMAN CLISCH

IRON RIVER — Father Norman Clisch, 77, of Iron River, passed away Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls.

He was born May 22, 1939, in Baraga, son of the late David and Rose (Ellenich) Clisch. He attended Baraga Schools.

In the fall of 1953, he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Lawrence Seminary at Mount Calvary, Wis.

From 1959 to 1961, he attended St. Paul’s Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and then St. John’s in Plymouth from 1961 to 1965. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1965, by Bishop Thomas Noa at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette.

Father Clisch then served as associate pastor of St. Ann Parish in Menominee, and St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish in Iron Mountain. In 1968, he transferred to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Escanaba as an assistant pastor.

He received his first pastorate on August 4, 1970, assigned to St. Mary Parish in Mohawk and Keweenaw Catholic Mission. His assignments as pastor included Sacred Heart Mission in Ahmeek, St. Joseph Mission in Eagle Harbor, Our Lady of the Pines Mission in Copper Harbor, Resurrection Parish in Menominee with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mission in Sobieski (co-pastor) and Guardian Angels Parish in Crystal Falls, as well as parochial administrator of St. Rose Parish in Channing. Fr. Clisch was appointed pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Iron River in 1997, adding the pastorate of St. Cecilia Parish in Caspian in 2001. He retired on July 1, 2011.

Father Clisch is survived by his brothers, Gerald (Shirley), Thomas (Mary Kay), and Roland Clisch, all of Baraga, and sisters, Colleen (Thomas) Armstrong of Milwaukee and Lisa (James) Mantila of Republic.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Roger and Paul Clisch; and his sister-in-law, Shirley Clisch.

Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. Central time; and 10 to 11:45 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 at St. Agnes Catholic Church of Iron River.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, Feb. 10, at noon Central Time, celebrated by Most Reverend James H. Garland, Bishop Emeritus of Marquette.

Interment will be in the Baraga Cemetery in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, Father Norm requested donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Condolences may be expressed for Father Norman Clisch online at www.jacobsfuneralhomeir.com.

Funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River.