John Emanuel Obituary, Death – Fr. John Emanuel’s parents, Dr. Dennis Emanuel and Mary Coughlin Emanuel, brought him into the world on September 12, 1949 in Ottumwa, Iowa. In Ottumwa, he received his elementary education at St. Mary’s Catholic School and his secondary education at Walsh Catholic High School. After that, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from both Parsons College, which is located in Fairfield, Iowa, and the College of St. Mary, which is located in Omaha, Nebraska.
He completed his training for the priesthood at St. Paul Seminary, located in St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as Sacred Heart School of Theology, which is located in Hales Corner, Wisconsin. On June 6, 1992, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Tucson at St. Augustine Cathedral in Tucson, Arizona by Bishop Manuel D. Moreno, D.D. The ceremony took place at the cathedral. His first position was as associate pastor at Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Green Valley, Arizona. Subsequently, he served in the same capacity at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Tucson and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf, Iowa (during the time that he was on leave from the Diocese of Tucson to be with his sick father).
He subsequently went on to become the Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Clifton, Sacred Heart Parish in Willcox, and finally St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Payson when he returned to the Diocese of Tucson and served as the Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Yuma, Arizona. He also served as the Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Willcox, Arizona.
In 2006, he entered retirement, although he continued to minister for the Diocese through Catholic Community Services in institutions such as nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons. Additionally, he assisted the pastors of a number of parishes, including the one located in Tucson known as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
Fr. John was a devoted and committed servant of God who had a deep love for his family, friends, and the people who attended his church.