Retired Diocese of Joliet Bishop Dies at Age 84

Written by Scott Viau

Retired Diocese of Joliet Bishop Joseph Imesch has passed away at the age of 84, according to the Diocese.

Imesch served with the Diocese from 1979 until his retirement in 2006.

Despite years of service to the church, Imesch’s legacy is now intertwined with Joliet Diocese priests who were accused of sexually abusing young boys. The Joliet Diocese settled the cases out of court for a total of $4.137 million.

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While Imesch was never accused of sexual abuse, depositions showed that he knew about it. The Daily Southtown published a series of articles more than 10 years ago claiming then-Bishop Imesch transferred molester priests and ignored or intimidated parents who came forward with complaints.

Bishop Joseph L. Imesch was born June 21, 1931 in Gross Pointe Farms, Michigan. He went to elementary school at St. Ambrose and Paul schools in Grosse Pointe, Mich. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College in Detroit where he received his bachelor’s degree, according to Imesch’s biography on the Diocese’s website. He attended the North American College in Rome where he received a licentiate in sacred theology from the Gregorian University. He was ordained Dec. 16, 1956, in Rome.

When Imesch returned to Michigan he was appointed pastor at St. Charles Parish in Detroit from 1957 to 1959. He was secretary to Archbishop of DetroitJohn Cardinal Dearden from 1959 to 1971. He was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Farmington, where he served from 1971 to 1977.

Imesch was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit April 3, 1973. In 1977, he was assigned as regional bishop of the Northwest Region. On Aug. 28, 1979 he was installed at the third bishop of the Joliet Diocese. Imesch retired June 27, 2006.

Bishop of Joliet Daniel Conlon said in a statement that Imesch’s years of service were marked by great change and population growth, which he managed well.

“Bishop Imesch led with conviction and compassion and used his many talents generously. As we celebrate the coming of Christ in this season and, at the same time, commend Bishop Imesch to the love and mercy of God, his episcopal motto seems especially appropriate: The Lord Is Near. May he be near the Lord for all eternity,” Conlon said.