Joseph Leopold Imesch

Joseph Leopold Imesch (June 21, 1931 – December 22, 2015) was an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Joliet from 1979 to 2006.

[2][3] While in Rome, Imesch was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Detroit on December 16, 1956, by Bishop Martin J. O’Connor in the Chapel of the North American College.

[4] He received his episcopal consecration on April 3, 1973, from Cardinal Dearden, with Bishops Walter Schoenherr and Thomas serving as co-consecrators.

[2] From 2001 to 2003, he served as chair of Region VII[self-published source], which includes dioceses in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

Imesch started a sister relationship with the Diocese of Sucre in Bolivia, helping build and staff a hospital there.

Joseph Imesch eventually moved to Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home in Joliet, where he died on December 22, 2015, at age 84.