A priest who once served the Dyersville area has passed away.
Father Jerry Kopacek died Monday at Cedar Valley Hospice in Waterloo. He was 68.
Kopacek, originally from Britt, was ordained in 1988. His first assignment was at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, where he served as an associate pastor from 1988 to 1990. After several other assignments at various Iowa parishes, he returned to the Dyersville area as a pastor for the Basilica and St. Paul’s Parish in Worthington from 2004 to 2006.
Along with his assignments as pastor, Kopacek also served as a Dean of the Dyersville Deanery and Pastoral Coordinator of Beckman Catholic High School and St. Francis Xavier Grade School.
Public visitation for Father Kopacek began Wednesday and will continue today from 4 to 6 pm at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riceville. Funeral Mass will take place Friday at 10:30 am at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan, where he’ll be buried in St. John’s cemetery.
