Reverend Michael Emil Klarer was born in Monroe on June 23, 1953. He was the son of Emil and Marcella (Kammerude) Klarer. His Grandparents were Peter and Mary (Kainz) Kammerude of Blanchardville and Christian and Kathryn (Feubli) Klarer (both immigrants from Switzerland). He died on April 24, 2016 of complications from cancer caused by his military service in the First Gulf War in Kuwait.
He was a student at St. Victor Grade School, Monroe High School and a 1971 graduate of Holy Name Seminary High School in Madison. He attended Edgewood College and St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota where he graduated with a BA in Religious Education in 1975. He received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1989. He continued his studies at The School of Divinity at St. John's University. He was ordained a priest of the Madison Diocese on June 1, 1979 by the Most Reverend Cletus F. O'Donnell, second Bishop of Madison.
Fr. Klarer was assigned associate pastor at St. Aloysius Parish in Sauk City, Wisconsin from 1979 to 1986. He was then assigned as associate pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison from 1986 to 1989. From 1985 to 1990 he served on the board of directors of National Marriage Encounter and from 1988 to 1990 was the National Executive Clergy of National Marriage Encounter.
On May 10, 1989 Fr. Klarer was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He served with the Fifth Marine Regiment, First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California from 1989 to 1992. He served as the Regimental Chaplain of 5th Marine Regiment Ground Combat in Operation Desert Storm where he participated in Combat Operation in Kuwait. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon for service during the war. He participated with the Regiment in Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh in May of 1991 and was awarded the humanitarian Service Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. He then was transferred to Naval District Washington D.C, as the Catholic Pastor of the Naval District also serving as the Chaplain to the Navy Ceremonial Guard Unit. He conducted full honor funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and participated in many events at the White House and the Navy Memorial. In 1992 he conducted the memorial service commemorating the battle of Midway and in 1995 he conducted the 50th anniversary memorial service for Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. USN for the Kennedy family. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in September 1995 and received the Meritorious Service Medal. In 1995 he was assigned to graduate studies at United States International University in San Diego. He earned a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1997. He was assigned as staff chaplain at Naval Medical Center San Diego (Balboa Hospital) in 1996. He was chaplain to the critical care units and the Navy HIV program. He also practiced clinical therapy as an assistant therapist at Balboa Hospital.
In 1999 he was reassigned as a staff chaplain at Naval Station San Diego on the staff of the Regional Chaplain. Fr. Klarer coordinated the Catholic Programs of the Navy for a three state region and served on the coordinating board of that region. He left active duty in May of 2002 after having served 13 years. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (x3), the Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (x2), the Oversees Service Medal, the Saudi and Kuwait Service Medals, and the Cold War Service Medal. He continued his service in the Navy Reserves. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Commander in the Navy Reserves. He was a disabled Veteran.
On June 12, 2002 he was assigned as Pastor of his home parish of St. Victor in Monroe where he was baptized on July 25, 1953 and had celebrated his first Mass on June 3, 1979. He was proud of his alma mater and an enthusiastic supporter of St. Victor Grade School where he graduated in 1967 and his mother was head of the hot lunch program for 30 years.
He was a member of the board of directors of the Apostolate to the Handicapped, a founding member of the Madison Diocesan Choir, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Turner Hall Board of Directors, Chaplain to the Monroe Fire Department, the Monroe Swiss Singers, the New World Swiss Club, the Green County Historical Society, the Monroe Theatre Guild and the President of the Board of Directors of Turner Hall, Inc.
He was an avid American History enthusiast and an expert in his own family history. He truly loved the Catholic liturgy and liturgical music.
He was a gifted preacher. Fr. Mike grew up across the street from his beloved St. Victor Church. He was most proud of the people of his parish who worked so hard to renovate their complex; especially with the installation of the Matthew Ronald Buholzer Memorial Pipe Organ. This also fulfilled a childhood dream of restoring a pipe organ to his home Church.
Survivors include, a brother Patrick (Mary Alice Harris) of Verona, two sisters, Mary Kay Logemann of Platteville and Ellen (Mike) Malkow of Monroe, nephews and nieces Jonathan (Sarah) and Teresa Logemann and Jennifer (fiance Kyle Thorp) and Christopher Malkow. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents and also his brother-in-law Carl Logemann. Others survivors include brother priests (many who he has known since his teenage years and are like brothers) and his parishioners and other friends from across the country.
He wished to especially remember Fr. Kent Schmitt, Thomas Schilt, Fr. Bill Seipp, Fr. Steve Kortendick, Fr. Mike Resop, Fr. Jason Hesseling, Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl, Msgr. Larry Bakke, Allen Beadle, Joe Peters, Charles McLimans, Dr. Richard Merrion, Peter Minucci, Cindy Blanc, Julie and Don Zimmerman, Kevin Laufenberg, Diane Morrissey as well as the amazing medical team at the VA hospital in Madison, WI.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 29th at 11:00 am at St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Victor Catholic Church, 1760 14th St., Monroe, WI with Most Reverend Robert Morlino, Bishop of Madison. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 28th from 4:00 until 8:00 pm, and on Friday from 9:30 am until time of service. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, followed by lunch at The Mansion, 1417 Mansion Drive, Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be addressed to St. Clare of Assisi Parish, St. Victor School, or to the Fr. Mike Klarer scholarship fund for St. Victor School students. The Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home of Monroe is coordinating arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.
He was a student at St. Victor Grade School, Monroe High School and a 1971 graduate of Holy Name Seminary High School in Madison. He attended Edgewood College and St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota where he graduated with a BA in Religious Education in 1975. He received his Master of Divinity Degree in 1989. He continued his studies at The School of Divinity at St. John's University. He was ordained a priest of the Madison Diocese on June 1, 1979 by the Most Reverend Cletus F. O'Donnell, second Bishop of Madison.
Fr. Klarer was assigned associate pastor at St. Aloysius Parish in Sauk City, Wisconsin from 1979 to 1986. He was then assigned as associate pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Madison from 1986 to 1989. From 1985 to 1990 he served on the board of directors of National Marriage Encounter and from 1988 to 1990 was the National Executive Clergy of National Marriage Encounter.
On May 10, 1989 Fr. Klarer was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He served with the Fifth Marine Regiment, First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California from 1989 to 1992. He served as the Regimental Chaplain of 5th Marine Regiment Ground Combat in Operation Desert Storm where he participated in Combat Operation in Kuwait. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon for service during the war. He participated with the Regiment in Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh in May of 1991 and was awarded the humanitarian Service Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation Medal. He then was transferred to Naval District Washington D.C, as the Catholic Pastor of the Naval District also serving as the Chaplain to the Navy Ceremonial Guard Unit. He conducted full honor funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and participated in many events at the White House and the Navy Memorial. In 1992 he conducted the memorial service commemorating the battle of Midway and in 1995 he conducted the 50th anniversary memorial service for Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. USN for the Kennedy family. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in September 1995 and received the Meritorious Service Medal. In 1995 he was assigned to graduate studies at United States International University in San Diego. He earned a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1997. He was assigned as staff chaplain at Naval Medical Center San Diego (Balboa Hospital) in 1996. He was chaplain to the critical care units and the Navy HIV program. He also practiced clinical therapy as an assistant therapist at Balboa Hospital.
In 1999 he was reassigned as a staff chaplain at Naval Station San Diego on the staff of the Regional Chaplain. Fr. Klarer coordinated the Catholic Programs of the Navy for a three state region and served on the coordinating board of that region. He left active duty in May of 2002 after having served 13 years. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (x3), the Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (x2), the Oversees Service Medal, the Saudi and Kuwait Service Medals, and the Cold War Service Medal. He continued his service in the Navy Reserves. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Commander in the Navy Reserves. He was a disabled Veteran.
On June 12, 2002 he was assigned as Pastor of his home parish of St. Victor in Monroe where he was baptized on July 25, 1953 and had celebrated his first Mass on June 3, 1979. He was proud of his alma mater and an enthusiastic supporter of St. Victor Grade School where he graduated in 1967 and his mother was head of the hot lunch program for 30 years.
He was a member of the board of directors of the Apostolate to the Handicapped, a founding member of the Madison Diocesan Choir, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Turner Hall Board of Directors, Chaplain to the Monroe Fire Department, the Monroe Swiss Singers, the New World Swiss Club, the Green County Historical Society, the Monroe Theatre Guild and the President of the Board of Directors of Turner Hall, Inc.
He was an avid American History enthusiast and an expert in his own family history. He truly loved the Catholic liturgy and liturgical music.
He was a gifted preacher. Fr. Mike grew up across the street from his beloved St. Victor Church. He was most proud of the people of his parish who worked so hard to renovate their complex; especially with the installation of the Matthew Ronald Buholzer Memorial Pipe Organ. This also fulfilled a childhood dream of restoring a pipe organ to his home Church.
Survivors include, a brother Patrick (Mary Alice Harris) of Verona, two sisters, Mary Kay Logemann of Platteville and Ellen (Mike) Malkow of Monroe, nephews and nieces Jonathan (Sarah) and Teresa Logemann and Jennifer (fiance Kyle Thorp) and Christopher Malkow. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents and also his brother-in-law Carl Logemann. Others survivors include brother priests (many who he has known since his teenage years and are like brothers) and his parishioners and other friends from across the country.
He wished to especially remember Fr. Kent Schmitt, Thomas Schilt, Fr. Bill Seipp, Fr. Steve Kortendick, Fr. Mike Resop, Fr. Jason Hesseling, Fr. Gary Krahenbuhl, Msgr. Larry Bakke, Allen Beadle, Joe Peters, Charles McLimans, Dr. Richard Merrion, Peter Minucci, Cindy Blanc, Julie and Don Zimmerman, Kevin Laufenberg, Diane Morrissey as well as the amazing medical team at the VA hospital in Madison, WI.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 29th at 11:00 am at St. Clare of Assisi Parish at St. Victor Catholic Church, 1760 14th St., Monroe, WI with Most Reverend Robert Morlino, Bishop of Madison. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 28th from 4:00 until 8:00 pm, and on Friday from 9:30 am until time of service. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, followed by lunch at The Mansion, 1417 Mansion Drive, Monroe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be addressed to St. Clare of Assisi Parish, St. Victor School, or to the Fr. Mike Klarer scholarship fund for St. Victor School students. The Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home of Monroe is coordinating arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at: shriner111.com.