Father Gannon, 96, was ordained at 60

Father Joseph Gannon, 96, died July 19. He was born Oct. 1, 1914.

He studied for the priesthood after raising six children with his wife, Arlene, who died in 1970. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on June 29, 1975.

Father Gannon served at St. Leo the Great in St. Paul, Maternity of the Blessed Virgin in St. Paul and St. Peter in Forest Lake. He also served as a chaplain on cruise ships, served Mass at local parishes and spent time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He retired from full-time ministry in 1985 and moved to the Leo C. Byrne residence in St. Paul.

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 27 at St. Helena in Minneapolis, with interment at St. Michael Cemetery in Farmington.