Fr. Damian M. Kobus, O.S.M., a solemn professed friar and priest of the Order of Friar Servants of Mary – U.S.A. Province, died very early Thursday morning, Jan. 5, 2017, at Laurelhurst Nursing Facility in Portland. He was ninety-four years of age, a friar for seventy years, and a priest for sixty-seven years.
He was born May 18, 1922 in Yorkville, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Helen (Kissel) Kobus and baptized at St. Joseph’s Parish, Tiltonville, Ohio.
Fr. Damian entered the Servite Order at Mount St. Philip, Granville, WI, on September 2, 1941, and the Servite Novitiate also at Mount St. Philip on September 6, 1942. He professed his first vows there on September 12, 1942, solemn vows on September 22, 1946, and was ordained a priest on June 5, 1949.
His assignments in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon included Associate Pastor/Administrator/Pastor, St. Rita Parish; Administrator, St. Helen Parish, Sweet Home; Associate Pastor, St. Charles Parish, Gold Beach. He also ministered in Ireland, Chicago, Detroit, Carteret, N.J., South Africa, and Yuma, Ariz.
He retired in 2006 at the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother (The Grotto) in Portland. He continued his retirement at Laurelhurst Village, where he remained until his death.
Fr. Damian was pre-deceased by his father Joseph, mother Helen, and his brothers and sisters, Stanley, Walter, Benjamin, Irene and Marie. He is survived by many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
The Funeral will be held Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, in the Chapel of Mary, The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland.
8:45 a.m. – Reception of the body and a brief time for viewing
9:15 a.m. – Morning Prayer from the Office of the Dead, recitation of the Servite Rosary by the Servite Secular Order
10 a.m. – Mass of Christian Burial
Interment – Servite Cemetery, The Grotto, Portland, OR.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
For more information about the Servite Order, go to www.servite.org.
