Father Victor A Cloquet

Obituary On the evening of May 9, 2016, surrounded by family, Father Victor Cloquet passed away peacefully of natural causes in Gig Harbor, WA. Father Victor Antone Cloquet, an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe of Southwest Washington, was born in the Long-bell Logging Camp at Ryderwood, WA on November 25, 1925. He was the fourth child of Ernest Cloquet and Justina (Jurach) Cloquet. His maternal grandmother Theresa Jurach, came from Moravia in the Czech Republic. His paternal grandmother, Cecelia Cloquet, was born in Ethel, WA and baptized at St. Francis Xavier Mission at Cowlitz Prairie in 1844. Fr. Victor attended Washington state public schools at Kelso, Woodland and Kalama. At about the age of 9, when walking home, after mass, he told his mother he would like to become a priest. On September 6, 1939 Victor entered St. Edward's Seminary at Kenmore, WA. Upon completing eleven years of study he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas A. Connolly, then Co-Adjutor of Seattle, on March 25, 1950, The Annunciation of the Lord. As a parochial vicar he assisted the pastors in the parishes of: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sedro Woolley, WA; Sacred Heart, Bellevue, WA; and St. Teresa, Seattle, WA. In 1960 Fr. Victor received his first appointment as a pastor to St. Patrick's Church in Dockton, WA. Thereafter he was the founding pastor of the new parish of St John Mary Vianney, Vashon, WA. Archbishop Connolly extended to him the privilege of naming this new church, dedicated in 1964. Following this assignment Fr. Victor became the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the parochial school of St. James , Vancouver, WA. The next adventure in 1977 was the rural area of Lewis County - the parish of Sacred Heart, Morton, WA with the Mission of St. Yves, Mossyrock, WA and the Packwood Catholic Station. For his final pastoral appointment Fr. Victor came home to the church where he was baptized - St Joseph's Church, Tacoma, WA. Here he ministered to the Slovak community for eight years. On July 1, 1991 Fr. Victor retired to Allyn, WA where he liked to fish from his dock on the lake, do some gardening and fair weather golfing. He was quick to state that his handicap is the exercise involved. He continued to assist the neighboring pastors throughout his retirement: Prince of Peace, Belfair; St. Gabriel's, Port Orchard; and Star of the Sea, Bremerton, WA as needed up until the end of 2015. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers and sisters: Joseph, Robert, Marion, Cecelia, and Donald. Survivors include his nieces and nephews: Justina Tuttle, Kathleen Roth, Mary Ellen Bissett, Richard Roth, Theodore Bruno, Alice Andress, Tom Baker, Charlene Pierce, Christine Kondrat, Cathleen Lombard, Corinne Bernardy, Charleen Lundberg, Colleen Cloquet, Celine Cloquet and several great nieces and nephews. Tacoma's St. Joseph's Church will be hosting, on Sunday, May 15, a Rosary at 6:30 PM, a Vigil at 7:00 PM and Funeral Service on Monday, May 16 at 11 AM, which will be conducted by the Most Reverend Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, and followed by a Reception. A Burial will be held in Seattle, WA at Calvary Cemetery immediately following the Reception. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity, in Father's name. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.