Rev. Leonard Sylvestor Misey

Priest of Diocese of Jefferson City died at his home in Brunswick, MO on Friday, September 16, 2011 at the age of 83 years. Leonard was born on April 22 1928 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of the late John Joseph Misey and Pauline Catherine (Fojut) Misey. Father Misey was baptized at St. Casimir Church in Milwaukee on April 29, 1928. He had seven siblings. He is survived by his brother, Robert Jerome Misey. Six siblings preceded him in death: Rev. Roderick Misey, CP, Sister Genevieve Misey, SSND, Sister Pauline Misey, SSND, Dr. Edward G. Misey, John Robert Misey and Jerome Misey.

Father Misey received his primary education at St. Casimir Elementary School 1933-1941 and his high school education at Messmer High School 1941-1945, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served in the United States Army from 1946-1948 attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class or 1948-1949 of Master Sergeant. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Economics at Marquette University, Milwaukee 1948-1952. He then attended St. Josephs College, Rennselaar, Indiana 1953-1956, St. Charles Seminary, Carthagena, Ohio 1956-1961 and Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri 1961-1963. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ on March 30, 1963 by the Most Reverend Bishop Joseph M. Marling, CPPS, at the Cathedral, of St. Peter, Jefferson City. His first solemn Mass was held on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1963, at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his home parish. Father Miseys first assignment as assistant was at St. Peter Church , Marshall, Missouri beginning April 23, 1963, then as assistant at SS. Peter & Paul Church. Boonville on July 10, 1964, assistant at Sacred Heart Church in Columbia on September 4, 1964 and assistant at St. Pius X Church, Moberly on June 15, 1967. Father Misey was appointed Extraordinary Confessor for the Sisters of St. Francis at St. Boniface Convent, Brunswick, Missouri on February 21, 1968. Father Misey was appointed pastor of Annunciation Church, California on October 15, 1969. He was appointed pastor of Holy Cross Church in Cuba and St. Michael Church in Steelville on April 19, 1976. His next assignment as pastor was to the Church of the Resurrection, Wellsville on July 26, 1982. He was appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Palmyra and Queen of Peace Church in Ewing on October 15, 1986. He was appointed pastor of St. Boniface Church, Brunswick and St. Raphael Church, Indian Grove on August 1, 1992. He was appointed temporary administrator of St. Joseph Church in Salisbury on January 1, 2001. He was appointed temporary administrator of St. Bonaventure Church, Marceline and the Mission of St. Joseph, Hurricane Branch on March 11, 2002. He was appointed temporary administrator of St. Joseph Church, Salisbury on July 12, 2002. He was appointed pastor of the Mission of St. Joseph, Hurricane Branch on July 1, 2004. At the time of his death, he was the former pastor of St. Boniface Church, Brunswick, St. Raphael Church, Indian Grove and the Mission of St. Joseph, Hurricane Branch. In addition, Father Misey was appointed to the Diocesan Finance Committee 1969-1976. Father Misey was a member of the Priests� Senate and served as Secretary from 1972-1976. For further studies, Father Misey attended St. Louis University 1974-1977, earning a Master�s Degree in Religious Education and 1977-1986 earning a Masters Degree in Biblical Languages and Literature. In 1983, he attended Tel Aviv University in Israel for four months studying Biblical Archaeology. Father Misey has been to the Holy Land five times and took part in archeological excavations there for several summers. He had adopted a foster son from The Holy Land Christian Orphanage in Bethlehem. Father Misey was appointed to the Diocesan Matrimonial Tribunal as a judge. He was involved with Teens Encounter Christ movement and was Chaplain to a Catholic Golden Age Pilgrimage in 1984. He entered the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre on April 29, 1990 and was appointed Spiritual Director of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre from March 1, 2000 until September 3, 2009, when he became Chaplain Emeritus. He was appointed to the Diocesan Committee on Cemeteries in 2001. He was appointed temporary dean of the Brookfield Deanery on July 1, 1998, and then dean of the Brookfield Deanery October 1, 1998, serving two terms until to October 1, 2004. Appointed dean of Jefferson City Deanery in the seventies. On May 29, 1988, Father Misey celebrated his Silver Jubilee of Ordination at St. Joseph Church in Palmyra with Bishop Michael F. McAuliffe. Father Misey was a member of the Brunswick Knights of Columbus and loved to visit the country of Ireland.

Visitation will be at St. Boniface Church, 203 E. Harrison St., Brunswick, Missouri, on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, from 5:00 until 8:00 pm, with the Wake Service at 5:00 pm, Father Robert H. Fields officiating. The concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at 11:00 am at St. Boniface Church in Brunswick. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Monday, September 26, 2011. Pallbearers were parishioners of St. Boniface, St. Raphael and St. Joseph Catholic Churches. Memorials may be made to; Masses and mailed to: Attn Father Rob Fields St. Boniface Catholic Church, 203 E. Harrison, Brunswick, MO 65236. Funeral arrangements were by the Breshears Memorial Chapel at Brunswick, MO.