Father Ambrose Karels

Rev. Ambrose Gregory Karels, died on April 7, 2018 at Menorah Hospital, Overland Park, Kansas.  Father Karels was eighty-five years old and served the Church with great distinction for fifty-nine years in priestly ministry.  Fr. Karels was born to Phillip and Margaret (Stoll) Karels in Rosen, Minnesota on May 25, 1932 and lived on the family farm before entering the seminary. Father Karels was ordained March 14, 1959 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kansas City, Missouri.  He was Assistant Pastor at Holy Cross, St. Augustine, Visitation, St. James, and Assumption Parishes in Kansas City.  He also resided at Christ the King Parish, Kansas City. Besides his parochial work, Father Karels served as Chaplain at Cardinal Glennon, Bishop Lillis, and Bishop Hogan High Schools.  He was also the Director of the Pontifical Choir, Diocesan Director of Music, Chaplain to the Latin Mass Community at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Kansas City, and Hospital Chaplain at Veterans Hospitals, Kansas City, Missouri and Leavenworth, Kansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Ralph, and sisters Marcie, Adelaide and Grace.  He is survived by his sister Antonia Digre of Maple Valley, Washington and his nephews and nieces. The Mass of Christian Burial for Father Karels will be held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Kansas City, Missouri, at 10:30am. Burial will be at a later date at St. Joseph Church Cemetery, Rosen, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Diocese of Kansas City St. Joseph.