Father Thomas Reilman, a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport, died Aug. 3 at age 97.
Thomas Joseph Reilman was born May 21, 1928 to Fredrick and Helen Reilman in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He began his journey of faith there at St. Jude School before moving to Davenport, where he attended St. Ambrose Academy. He graduated from St. Ambrose College in 1950 and later earned a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
He worked as a chemist in the Quad Cities for International Harvester and John Deere before answering a call to religious life. He studied at St. Ambrose and Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 3, 1961 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport by Bishop Ralph Hayes.
Father Reilman’s priestly ministry began in education, serving on the faculty of St. Ambrose College from 1961-66 and Assumption High School in Davenport from 1966-67. He then transitioned to parish ministry, serving St. Boniface Parish-Clinton, St. Mary Parish-Dodgeville, St. Mary Parish-Kingston, Sacred Heart Parish-Lost Nation and St. Mary Parish-Wilton. He later ministered to staff and residents at St. Francis Nursing Home in Burlington. Throughout his ministry, Father Reilman had a special devotion to the Holy Spirit. He lived his final years in Dubuque.
Visitation will be held Aug. 12 from 9-10 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Parish-Davenport followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Diocese of Davenport seminarians.
