Msgr. Riedmuller
Msgr. Leo Anthony Riedmueller, pastor of St. Mary Church in Hot Springs for the past 18 years, died Sunday, Jan. 22. He was 82.
A native of Morrilton, he was the youngest son of the late George Riedmueller Sr. and Elizabeth Laux Riedmueller. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his five brothers, George Jr., John, Aloys, Ed and Emil Riedmueller, and three sisters, Elizabeth Todd, Marie Boeckmann and Rita Meyer.
Msgr. Riedmueller attended Sacred Heart School in Morrilton and completed his college and seminary formation at St. John Seminary in Little Rock. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Little Rock at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on May 22, 1948, by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher.
In February 1995, he was designated a prelate of honor with the title “monsignor” by the late Pope John Paul II.
In 1998 he observed his 50th anniversary as a priest along with Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald and other jubilarians.
“I’m very thankful to God for all he’s given me,” Msgr. Riedmuller said.
Following his ordination, Msgr. Riedmueller taught at Catholic High School and Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock for 19 years. During this time he also was assigned to be a chaplain of St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, Our Lady of Nazareth Home in Little Rock and St. Joseph Orphanage in North Little Rock. Msgr. Riedmueller was also the spiritual director of St. John Seminary in Little Rock.
He was well known for his compassion for the sick and dying.
Over his 58 years as a priest, he served as pastor of St. Edward Church in Texarkana, St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville, St. Theresa Church in Little Rock, St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro and Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village.
Bishop J. Peter Sartain shared the news of Msgr. Riedmueller’s death during the Mass for Life Jan. 22 and prayed for the late priest and his many relatives.
“Probably half of you are related to him,” he said.
He is survived by two sisters, Lorene Riedmueller of Morrilton and Frances Beck of St. Vincent.
A rosary service was held Jan. 24 at St. Mary Church with Bishop J. Peter Sartain presiding and Jan. 25 at Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton with Father Charles Thessing presiding. A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 25 in Hot Springs with Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert presiding. Another funeral Mass was celebrated in Morrilton Jan. 26 with Bishop Sartain presiding. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Morrilton.
Memorials may be made to the Msgr. Leo A. Riedmueller Burse at Sacred Heart School, 106 N. Saint Joseph Street, Morrilton, AR 72110.
