Father Eugene Keusal was administrator of parishes on Maui, Oahu

By Anna Weaver

Father Eugene L. Keusal, 71, a retired Archdiocese of Chicago priest who served in several parishes on Maui and Oahu since 1996, died Sept. 6 at Resurrection Life Center outside of Chicago. He had been a priest for 45 years.

Bishop Larry Silva will preside at a memorial Mass for Father Keusal at St. Theresa Church, Kihei, at 10 a.m., on Oct. 7. Father Keusal’s funeral was celebrated Sept. 12 at his former parish, St. Mary Church in Mundelein, Ill.

“We’re grateful for his years of service here in Hawaii,” said Father Gary Secor, vicar for clergy for the Diocese of Honolulu. “He’ll be missed by the priests and the people in the parishes he served, especially on Maui where he served most of his time.”

Father Keusal came to Hawaii from Chicago for a sabbatical in 1996 and began assisting at St. Ann Church in Waihee, Maui. He later spent two months as a sacramental minister at St. Theresa Church in Kihei, Maui, after which he returned to St. Ann in January 1998 to be its administrator.

Father Keusal was assigned in July 1999 as parish administrator of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Waikane on Oahu’s windward side. He retired from the Archdiocese of Chicago in April 2001.

Father Keusal’s last administrator position was at St. Joseph Church in Makawao, Maui, from July 2003 until June 2004 when he retired from active ministry.

In his spare time, Father Keusal enjoyed writing. His book Jorge: The Priest and the Exchange Student was published in 1999 and recounted his experience mentoring an 18-year-old Mexican exchange student while pastor of a church outside of Chicago. Father Keusal’s 2004 effort, The Boy Who Wanted to be a Priest. The God Who Wanted Him to be a Prince, was a children’s book about Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George.

Father Keusal also wrote a liturgical book, several articles for religious journals, and an article for the Chicago archdiocesan newspaper The New World on the filming of a movie about Father Damien in Kalaupapa in 1998.

A native Chicagoan, Father Keusal received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and master’s degree in theology from St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein. He taught and ministered at various schools and churches in Illinois before coming to Hawaii.

Father Keusal had returned home to the Chicago area at the beginning of this summer to visit his sister, Sister Mary Keusal who was celebrating her 60th anniversary of religious life. It was there that he became ill.

Condolences may be sent to Father Keusal’s sister and brother: Sister Mary Keusal, 21903 Orion Street, Sauk Village, IL 60411, and Daniel Keusal, 5644 Sunstar Court, Charlotte, NC 28226.