PESHTIGO, WI — Fr. John “Jack” Harper, 78, died on January 1, 2026, at the age of 78.
Fr. Harper was born in Menominee, Michigan, on March 6, 1947, the fifth of eight sons of John and Catherine (Hunting) Harper. In 1962, Fr. Harper attended Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minnesota. He graduated from Marinette Catholic Central in 1965. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1981.
Fr. Harper pursued theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, New Jersey, and earned a master of divinity degree from Seton Hall University in 1987. On June 6, 1987, Fr. Harper was ordained a priest at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral by Bishop Adam Maida. Continuing his education, Fr. Harper earned a master of arts degree in 2000 from Seton Hall University.
Fr. Harper began his ministry as associate pastor/parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Appleton. In 1988, he was assigned as associate pastor/parochial vicar at St. Philip the Apostle Parish, Green Bay. The following year, Fr. Harper was co-pastor at Holy Family Parish, Marinette.
For the next 21 years, Fr. Harper ministered to St. Mary Parish, De Pere, first as administrator and later as pastor. During this time, he also served Immaculate Conception Parish, Glenmore, and St. Mary Parish, Stark, as temporary administrator (October-November 1996).
From 2006-2011, while continuing to lead St. Mary Parish, De Pere, he was appointed administrator and later pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in De Pere. Fr. Harper served as an advocate for the Marriage Tribunal.
In 2011, Fr. Harper was appointed pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Green Bay, where he ministered until 2017, when he received senior status. Fr. Harper continued his pastoral care as chaplain for the Apostleship of the Sea.
Visitation will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church, 171 S. Wood Ave., Peshtigo, on Thursday, January 15, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., with a prayer service at 5 p.m. led by Fr. Michael Lightner. Visitation will then continue at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportsman Dr., De Pere, on Friday, January 16, from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral liturgy.
The funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. with Bishop David Ricken as celebrant and Fr. Patrick Beno as homilist. Burial will be on a later date in Riverside Cemetery, Peshtigo.