Father John Paul Krier

19 January 1943 to 30 August 2022

Father John Paul Krier (Fr. Jack) embarked on his final journey to the kingdom to be with His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on August 30, 2022, at the age of 79, after a brave struggle with cancer. Jack was born on January 19, 1943, alongside his twin brother Jerome (Jerry), to John and Agnes Krier in Lewistown, Montana. He and Jerry also joined their older sister Terri.

Jack spent his childhood in Great Falls Montana. After high school he began his pursuit of the Priesthood. He spent two years at St. John’s Seminary at St. John’s University in Minnesota, followed by two years at Resurrection College in Ontario, Canada. He followed that with 4 years of Theology at St. John’s Seminary/University in Minnesota. On June 7, 1969, Fr. Jack was ordained a Priest for the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings Montana. He spent 23 years serving the Diocese in the communities of Livingston, Great Falls, Pompey’s Pillar, Huntley, Ballantine, Worden, and Billings. He would spend the last 27 years serving the Diocese of Spokane with much of that time as the Pastor of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Medical Lake. He had a special way of connecting with people through his humor and humbleness. During his Priesthood, Fr. Jack was particularly proud of his work as the Director of the Cursillo Movement in Great Falls as well as his work with Marriage Encounter, Healing Ministry, and his work as a Certified Drug Counselor. He expressed his great devotion to the Eucharist through his homilies and the consecration at the Mass.

Fr. Jack was both a spiritual leader and a friend to his many parishioners over the years. He had unique ability to remember a new parishioner’s name after one introduction. During his homilies he would humbly share his own struggles and connect with the people through their common humanity, reminding them that “God doesn’t make junk”. Jack enjoyed following sports, particularly his Gonzaga Bulldogs. Fr. Jack is survived by his sister-in-law Debbie Krier (Kalispel MT), sister Terri, cousins, nephews and nieces and numerous devoted friends who considered him family.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents, John and Agnes, his beloved twin brother Jerry, who passed in 2018, and his dogs, Barkley and Rubi. “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant” Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Spokane, WA on Friday, September 9th at 11:00 am.