Father Michael Peltzer
WICHITA - Father Peltzer was born August 4, 1953, in Omaha, Nebraska, and died Tuesday, April 9, 2024. His family moved to Andale, when he was just a few weeks old, and then on to Wichita, where he attended Christ the King and St. Francis of Assisi schools. After graduation from Bishop Carroll High School in 1971, he attended Kansas Newman College before entering the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky. After completing his theological studies at Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., he was ordained by Bishop Maloney on May 10, 1980, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wichita.
As an associate pastor, he served at St. Patrick and Christ the King parishes in Wichita. He also served as the moderator of the Padilla Club for Catholic singles and was on the Diocesan Centennial Committee in 1986-87. It was during that time when he and his mother co-authored the commemorative book on the history of the Wichita Diocese.
In 1987, he became pastor at Sacred Heart parish in Eureka, along with St. John parish in Hamilton and St. Teresa of Avila parish in Madison. While at Eureka, he built the new parish hall, which was completed in 1993.
It was in the year 1998 when Fr. Peltzer became pastor of the newly consolidated St. Joan of Arc Parish in Harper County, which consisted of the former St. Patrick parish in Harper, Immaculate Conception parish in Danville and Sacred Heart parish at Anthony, with the three churches remaining open as the worship sites for the new parish.
After 20 years in Harper County, Fr. Peltzer found it necessary to step into semi-retirement, with residence at the priest retirement center at Bel Aire. It was during this time that he was appointed chaplain for the cloistered Carmelite Nuns at their monastery near the Bel Aire area, while serving as historian for the diocese. After the nuns left the diocese in 2019, Father retired on June 4, 2020, and continued his work as historian.
Father Peltzer is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. William and Mary K. Peltzer; and sister, Heidi Marie Peltzer. He is survived by his brother, Christopher; sister and brother-in-law, Theresa and Michael Elpers; niece, Tara (Carlos) Munoz; nephews, Jacob (Katie) Elpers, Jesse (Emilie) Elpers, Issac Elpers and fiancé, Elizabeth Mick, and Jack Nowlin; great nieces and nephews, Diego and Ignacio Munoz, Elizabeth, Rebekah, Isabelle and Cecilia Elpers, and Murphy Elpers.
Rosary was at 7 p.m., Monday, April 15, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Wichita. Graveside service followed at 1:30 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery-Andale.
Memorials have been established with: Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 3550 North 167 th Street West, Colwich, KS 67030, and St. Bridget Catholic Church, 4112 South 26 th Street, Omaha, NE 68107. Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Share tributes online at: www.dlwichita.com