The Rev. Leonard A. Kistler, C.PP.S., 82, died at 5:30 p.m. June 9, 2014, at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, where he made his home. He had been in failing health.

He was born April 5, 1932, in Ottawa, to Linus and Agnes Brown Kistler.

He entered the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1946 at Brunnerdale, the Missionaries' minor seminary outside of Canton, and went on to study at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind. He was ordained June 10, 1961.

His first assignment was as assistant pastor of Holy Rosary Church, Dayton. He went to Peru to serve in the C.PP.S. missions in 1964, ministering in parishes in La Oroya and Yauli.

He returned to the United States in 1973, when he was named associate pastor of Precious Blood Church in Dayton. From 1978-79, he was a member of the C.PP.S. parish renewal team. In 1979, he was named associate pastor of St. Augustine Church, Minster.

He served at Blessed Sacrament Church in Sharps, Fla., and was appointed pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Winter Garden, Fla., in 1982, the first Missionary of the Precious Blood to serve at that parish. He returned to Ohio in 1989, when he was named assistant pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Cleveland. He ministered at St. Boniface Church, New Riegel, and St. Peter Church, Alvada, from 1994-2003.

He retired to St. Charles Center, Carthagena, in 2003. He celebrated the golden anniversary of his ordination in 2011.

He is survived by three brothers and their wives, Francis (Betty) Kistler, San Jose, Calif., Harold (Janet) Kistler, Medina, and L. Charles (Nancy) Kistler, Glandorf; two sisters, Rosalia Osterhage, Kalida, and Mary Ann Langhals, Glandorf; a sister-in-law, Philomena Kistler, Ottawa; numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph Kistler and his wife, Rosearlene, and Raymond Kistler, and a brother-in-law, Eugene Osterhage.

Fr. Kistler was a studious man with a good sense of humor. He remained close to his large family throughout his life, carefully tracing the family's roots all the way back to Germany. He was also faithful to the vocation he felt when he was still a schoolboy. His brother Charles said that when Leonard was still in grade school he rode his bicycle to neighboring towns to talk to the priests there about his vocation.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. Friday at St. Charles Center, with Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S., presiding. Burial will follow at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Ottawa.

Calling hours are 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at St. Charles, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, Cincinnati Province.

Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry is handling the arrangements.