Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Cletus H. Pfab, SJ, who died on June 28, 2025 at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan. He was 88 years old. May he rest in peace.
Cletus is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Regina Pfab, his brothers (Irvin Pfab, Ernest Pfab, Fr. Martin Pfab, Edmund Pfab, Clarence Pfab, and Henry Pfab) and his sisters (Lucille Stokesberry and July Little). He is survived by his sisters (Bernice Martensen, Caroline Koppes, and Charlotte Pfab).
Cletus was born on May 15, 1937 in Monticello, Iowa. He graduated from Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (1955) and studied for one year at Marquette University before entering the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus on August 25,1956 at the Jesuit Novitiate at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Cletus was ordained on May 30, 1969 at Jesuit College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, and pronounced final vows on September 8, 2000 at Marquette University.
Cletus earned a bachelor’s degree in science from Spring Hill College, studied theology at St. Mary’s College in St. Mary’s, Kansas (1966-1967) and Saint Louis University (1967-1970), and studied biological science at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana (1967-1970).
During regency, Cletus taught math, biology, and chemistry at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha (1963-1966). After ordination, he ministered to homeless and disabled adults (1970-1972) before teaching theology, English, and biology at his alma mater, Campion Jesuit High School (1972-1974). Desiring to work more directly with the poor and marginalized, Cletus spent eight years working with the United Farm Workers organization where he was a union organizer and field office manager in New York (1974-1976) and California (1976-1980).
Cletus then directed his ministerial efforts to providing pastoral and sacramental ministry to others. He was an associate pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Milwaukee (1982-1984) and at St. Bruno’s Church in San Bruno, California (1984-1987). He was a chaplain at Creighton University (1990-1991) and a parochial vicar at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Minneapolis (1991-1992). Cletus performed pastoral ministry at St. Camillus Jesuit Community (1992-1994), Miguel Pro Jesuit Community in Milwaukee (1994-2007), and at Arrupe House in Milwaukee (2007-2011). He was missioned to Colombiere Center in 2011 to pray for the Church and the Society.
Cletus was an admirable Jesuit, totally dedicated to the poor and marginalized people he served. He was full of compassion as a result of his own struggles with a bi-polar disorder over the years. Cletus had an active, inquiring mind and was interested in and knowledgeable about many things, scientific and non-scientific. Born and raised in a large Iowa farming family, he met people easily, lived simply, and knew how to share Christ’s love with those most in need.
Fr. James Radde, SJ, had these memories of Cletus:
Cletus was a senior at Campion when I arrived as a junior. We were both on the rifle team and Cletus, the captain, was the best shot. He was also a great football player for Campion. For years he was in California working with Cesar Chavez and Hispanic farm workers.
