Father John Earl Magel, 86, who served as controller for the Archdiocese of Louisville for many years, died April 15 at Sacred Heart Village, where he had lived since 2005.
Father Magel also served as pastor of St. Bartholomew and St. Philip Neri churches in Louisville and St. Michael Church in Fairfield, Ky., before his retirement in 1995.
He was a graduate of Male High School, St. Mary’s College and St. Meinrad Seminary. Father Magel was ordained to the priesthood June 11, 1960, and also served as associate pastor of Holy Family, Our Mother of Sorrows and St. Elizabeth of Hungary churches and was the Archdiocesan Scout Chaplain.
Survivors include two sisters, Virginia Chestnut and Dorothy Link, and many nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held April 18 at Ratterman Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at St. Bartholomew Church, 2042 Buechel Bank Road, on April 19 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held April 19 at 11 a.m. at St. Bartholomew. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of gifts to the Mass of the Air, 508 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, Ky. 40207.
