Father Thomas Richard Saale

Father Thomas Richard "Dick" Saale Father Thomas Richard "Dick" Saale, age 86, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, formerly of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, September 29, 2012, at Little Sisters of the Poor, Kansas City, Missouri. Richard was born the son of Ed and Grace (Thorpe) Saale on October 13, 1925, in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was a 1943 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in Chillicothe. Following high school, Richard entered Conception Seminary in 1943. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Joseph on May 25, 1950. In the late 1950's, Father Saale was appointed assistant at Immaculate Conception, the German national parish in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was named pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Hamilton, Missouri, in 1961. In 1963, Father Saale was appointed pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Kansas City, Missouri. He served in Kansas City until his retirement. During the eight years that Father Saale served at Blessed Sacrament, the fight for Civil Rights was taking place, causing it to be a very turbulent time. At this time, there were many people moving into the parish who were not Catholic. Father Saale dove into the community with open arms. He served as secretary for the 16 member Board of Directors of the Heart of America Boys Club. This club provided services to 400 neighborhood boys each month. In 1965, he encouraged the parish to begin a program that was designed to enable area residents who had not graduated from high school to pass their GED. This was a voluntary staffed program that started in February of 1966 with 43 adults. Catholic Family and Community Services took charge of the program in 1968, using federal funds for a nine month program at nine centers, one of which was Blessed Sacrament. Father Saale became the pastor of Holy Cross in the late 1970's. Mayor Richard Berkley of Kansas City, Missouri, appointed Father Saale in 1979 to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. This group was designed to determine policy and administer local public housing programs. In 1980, he was appointed pastor of Guardian Angels parish. Father Saale became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1988, where he served until his retirement in 1995. Father Saale loved sports growing up, especially baseball, he had a strong passion for it. He also enjoyed softball and basketball. In high school, he and his brothers learned how to box, and he became rather good at it. Father Saale boxed for the Golden Gloves, where he won a Bantam weight trophy at a match in St. Joseph, Missouri. In his later years, Father Saale enjoyed playing golf and cards. Survivors include, two sisters, Rita Moling of Chillicothe, Missouri, and Pat Clonan of Dublin, California. He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Ray, Vinnie, Ed, Jr., Jack, Bob, Jimmy, and Larry Saale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the St. Columban's Catholic Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. A Parish Rosary will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. with a family visitation to follow until 9:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Tuesday, from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Burial will be held at St. Columban's Catholic Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Columban's Catholic Church and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.