Des Moines priest served in many ways, including leading an Omaha parish

Msgr. Frank Chiodo – a parish priest, teacher, author, radio host, magazine editor and chaplain – served in the Diocese of Des Moines for most of his 47 years as a priest.

But for six years, from 2001 to 2007, he served in the Archdiocese of Omaha as pastoral administrator of St. Thomas More Parish in Omaha.

Msgr. Chiodo died Nov. 23, on Thanksgiving morning, after fighting cancer for two and a half years, according to a funeral home obituary. He was 74.

Funeral services will be at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Des Moines and include a 7 p.m. rosary on Dec. 3 and a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 4. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Msgr. Chiodo – who was ordained in 1976 and was honored with the title of monsignor in 1990 – taught at a Catholic school, helped preserve two historic churches in  Des Moines; wrote three books and produced three CDS; hosted a weekly radio program on Iowa Catholic Radio; was religious editor of Catholic Leader magazine; and served as a chaplain for local law enforcement, the Iowa National Guard and for an addiction recovery program.

His “life was a testament to his unwavering commitment to faith and service,” his obituary said.