ODELL — A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at St. Paul’s Church here for Father Michael J. Bies, pastor of St. Paul’s Parish as well as Sacred Heart in Campus.

Father Bies, 54, a priest of the Diocese of Peoria since 2004, died on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, at St. Paul’s Rectory after battling cancer for several months. He would have turned 55 the following day.

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, will be principal celebrant of the funeral Mass. A luncheon will be provided at the Knights of Columbus Hall immediately following the funeral. Burial will be that afternoon at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, with graveside services at 3 p.m.

Visitation is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 20, from 2 to 8 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church in Odell. The rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m.

Born in Chicago on Dec. 17, 1955, in Chicago to Michael J. and Elizabeth T. (Wiedemann) Bies Sr., he graduated from St. Clement’s Grade School and Roosevelt High School, both in Chicago. Prior to entering the seminary, Father Bies worked as a machinist at Walter Norris Corporation and Lind Engineering Corporation, both in Chicago, and for D.K. Checkwriter Company, Chicago.

He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo., and completed studies for the priesthood at Kenrick Theological Seminary, St. Louis, where he received a master of divinity degree.

Ordained by Bishop Jenky on May 22, 2004, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria, Father Bies served for the next five years as parochial vicar for St. Mary’s Parish, Pontiac, St. John’s, Cullom, and St. Joseph’s, Flanagan.
He served as administrator of St. Malachy’s Parish, Rantoul, from June 2009 until his appointment as pastor of the Odell parish this June.

Father Bies was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Michael, and two brothers, Steven and Robert. He is survived by cousins Patricia Widemann of Harwood Heights, Michelle Nolan-Widemann of Lake Como, Wis., Gene Bies, Ronald Bies, Leonard Bies, and Richard Scheelk of Villa Park.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Grade School or St. Paul’s Parish in Odell. Duffy Funeral Home in Odell is in charge of arrangements.