WAUNAKEE — Fr. Roger Taylor died Saturday, April 25, 2015, at the age of 78 at Waunakee Manor.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Parish Church, 209 South St., Waunakee, on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at 11 a.m.
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, will be the celebrant. Fr. Robert J. Gloudeman, a classmate and friend of Father Taylor and a senior priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, will be the homilist.
A luncheon will be served immediately following the Mass at Rex’s Innkeeper, 301 N. Century Ave., Waunakee.
Visitation at St. John the Baptist Parish Church will be held on Wednesday, April 29, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., and on Thursday, April 30, from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Interment at St. John the Baptist Parish Cemetery, Waunakee, will take place following the Mass on Thursday, April 30, with the Rite of Committal presided by Msgr. James Gunn, pastor, St. John the Baptist Parish, Waunakee.
Father Taylor was born on March 16, 1937, in Madison, the son of Henry and Marcella [Kessenich] Taylor.
After attending St. John Catholic Grade School, Waunakee, and Waunakee High School, Father Taylor attended St. Francis Minor Seminary, Milwaukee. He completed his undergraduate, philosophy, and theology collegiate studies at St. Francis de Sales Seminary, Milwaukee, and went on to complete his M.A. in Special Religious Education from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee. He was ordained by Bishop William P. O’Connor on May 30, 1964, at St. Raphael Cathedral, Madison.
Father Taylor served the Diocese of Madison as associate pastor at St. Dennis Parish, Madison; St. Mary Parish, Janesville; and St. Joseph Parish, Dodgeville. He served as pastor at St. Lawrence Parish, Jefferson, while serving as chaplain at St. Coletta School for the Developmentally Disabled, Jefferson, and as pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish, Muscoda, with missions of St. Joseph Parish, Avoca, and St. Malachy Parish, Clyde, where he retired from in 2006.
During his years of service to the Diocese of Madison, Father Taylor served as the area director of religious education; a member of the Presbyteral Council, the Conciliation and Arbitration Board, and the Priest Personnel Board; and as the chaplain of the Janesville Serra Club.
He is survived by his sisters Phyllis (David) Frederick and Judy (Ray) Marks and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Raphael Society Clergy Retirement Fund, c/o Office of Finance, Diocese of Madison, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719.
Memories may be shared at www.cressfuneralservice.com