Early life Paul Zipfel was born on September 22, 1935, in
St. Louis, Missouri, to Albert and Leona (née Rau) Zipfel. He had two older siblings, Ralph and Marion. Paul Zipfel attended St. Michael's Elementary School from 1940 to 1949, and afterwards entered the St. Louis Preparatory Seminary. Zipfel then studied at
Kenrick Seminary in Shrewsbury, Missouri (1955–1957) and the
Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (1957–1961).
Priesthood Zipfel was
ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal
Joseph Elmer Ritter for the Archdiocese of St. Louis on March 18, 1961 in the
Cathedral of Saint Louis in St. Louis. Zipfel obtained his
Licentiate of Sacred Theology in June 1961 and completed his graduate studies at
Saint Louis University from 1963 to 1965, earning a
Master of Education. From 1961 to 1989, Zipfel did
pastoral work in the archdiocese as an associate
pastor, pastor,
teacher and administrator at various
schools and
parishes.
Auxiliary Bishop of St. Louis On May 16, 1989, Zipfel was appointed
auxiliary bishop of St. Louis and
titular bishop of Walla Walla by
Pope John Paul II. He received his
episcopal consecration on June 29, 1989m from Archbishop
John May, with Bishops
O'Donnell and
Steib serving as
co-consecrators.
Retirement and legacy Zipfel's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck was accepted by
Pope Benedict XVI on October 19, 2011, and he was succeeded by
David Kagan. In retirement, Bishop Zipfel took up residence in Saint Joseph's Hall at the
University of Mary in Bismarck, where he provided sacramental and spiritual service to students. In 2012, Zipfel was diagnosed with
dementia. His family and the Diocese of Bismarck decided to move him back to St. Louis to be closer to family. Zipfel lived at Mother of Good Counsel Home in
Normandy, Missouri. Zipfel died on July 14, 2019. ==See also==