Rev. Donald W. Huntimer, CSV, died Sept. 16, 2014 in the hospice unit at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, IL. He was 85.
Fr. Huntimer was born Jan. 29, 1929 in Madison, South Dakota, the son of Walter and Mary (Molumby) Huntimer. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Harold and Max and one sister, Sr. Laura Huntimer, PBVM. He is survived by his sisters Kathleen Huntimer, Rita Nygaard, Sr. Jean Huntimer, PBVM, Julie Lassegard and several nieces and nephews.
He pronounced his first vows on Aug. 15, 1951 and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William O’Brien at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Chicago on May 17, 1959. He held a bachelor’s and master’s degree in history, and a master’s degree in religious education from Loyola University, Chicago, as well as a master’s in expressive arts from Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, CA and in spirituality and worship from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.
Between 1954 and 1967, Fr. Huntimer taught at Spalding Institute in Peoria, St. Benedict High School and Marian High School in Chicago, and at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL. A turning point in his ministry came in 1967, when he became an instructor of adult religious education for the Archdiocese of Chicago. From that point forward, he worked in spiritual formation with adults.
From 1969 to 1975, he served as director of the Newman Apostolate Center at Sonoma State University, before serving from 1976-1983 as pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom Parish in Reno, NV, which also served as a Newman Center for students at the University of Nevada at Reno.
In 1984, he was assigned as pastor of Santa Ysabel Indian Mission in the San Diego Diocese, where he remained until 1988 before becoming parochial vicar at St. Viator Parish in Las Vegas.
In 1990, he moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he served for the next 21 years as sacramental minister to area parishes and prisons. In 2011, he retired to the Province Center in Arlington Heights, and was able to express his talents as an artist, painter and photographer.
Fr. Huntimer requested that his remains would be cremated and that there be no visitation or wake. A memorial Mass was celebrated Sept. 27, 2014 in the Province Center chapel.
Please remember Fr. Huntimer and his family in your Masses and prayers.
From letter dated Sept. 17 and 19, 2014 to the Viatorian Community from the Provincial, Rev. Thomas von Behren, CSV