Background
Imesch, Joseph Leopold was born on June 21, 1931 in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, United States. Son of Dionys and Margaret (Margelisch) Imesch.
Imesch, Joseph Leopold was born on June 21, 1931 in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, United States. Son of Dionys and Margaret (Margelisch) Imesch.
After attending Catholic elementary schools in Grosse Pointe, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College in Detroit, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953.
Early life and education
He then continued his studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, earning a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1957. Ordination and ministry
While in Rome, Imesch was ordained to the priesthood on December 16, 1956. Following his return to Michigan, Imesch served as a curate at Saint Charles Church in Detroit until 1959, when he became private secretary to Cardinal John Francis Dearden.
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
On February 8, 1973, Imesch was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Titular Bishop of Pomaria by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following April 3 from Cardinal Dearden, with Bishops Walter Joseph Schoenherr and Thomas Gumbleton serving as co-consecrators.
Bishop of Joliet
On June 30, 1979, Imesch was appointed the third Bishop of Joliet, Illinois by Pope John Paul World War II His installation took place at the Cathedral of Saint Raymond Nonnatus on August 28, 1979. From 2001-2003, he was chairman of Region VII, which includes dioceses in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Retirement
Shortly before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Imesch resigned as Bishop of Joliet on May 16, 2006. He was succeeded by Bishop J. Peter Sartain.
Within the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served as chairman of Committee on Women in Society and the Church (1982-1985), Committee Writing the Pastoral on the Concerns of Women (1983-1992), and Committee for Pastoral Practices (1995-1998), and a member of the Marriage and Family Life Committee (1994-1997), Committee for Stewardship (1995-2002), and Administrative Board (2001-2003).