Msgr. Raymond A. Hampe
passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the age of 96. Raymond was born on May 26,1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Theodore and Antoinette (nee Koncaba) Hampe; his dear sister, Dolores A. Berger (the late Gilbert W. Berger); and his dear aunt, Anna Koncaba. Monsignor Hampe is survived by his niece, Joyce (Dennis) Saffa; nephew, Jerry (Lynn) Berger; great-nieces Stephanie (Craig) Venker and Kristen Saffa; great-nephews Aaron (Kati) Berger, Kevin (Lindsey) Saffa, and Jon (Emily) Berger; great-great nieces and nephews Owen, Sam, and Julia Venker; Max and Harper Berger; Laney and Keaton Saffa; and Lucy and Claire Berger. He was a nephew, cousin and dear friend to many.
Ray attended St. John the Baptist High School, St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis on April 3, 1954. He served as associate pastor at Holy Family Parish, Holy Cross Parish, St. Roch Parish, and St. Stephen Protomartyr Parish, all in St. Louis, Missouri. From 1955 to 1958 he taught at Bishop DuBourg High School. In 1958 he became assistant director of the Archdiocesan Department of Special Education. While directing education at St. Mary’s Special School, he continued his graduate studies at St. Louis University in the fields of clinical psychology and education, earning a Masters’ degree in 1961 and a Ph.D. in 1967.
From 1977 to 1980, Monsignor was president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Council on Developmental Disabilities. Msgr. Hampe was chairman of the group which led to the successful passage of the tax to benefit developmentally disabled adults in St. Louis County (1979) and St. Louis City (1980). He was chairman of the Productive Living Board for St. Louis County from 1980 to 1987, which developed services and supports for residents with developmental disabilities. In acknowledgement of Monsignor’s service to more than 40,000 developmentally disabled county residents, St. Louis County Executive Gene McNary declared June 8, 1987, “Msgr. Raymond Hampe Day”. Msgr. Hampe was the Executive Director of the Department of Special Education for the Archdiocese from 1989 to 1993.
Msgr. Hampe served as Chaplain to Mount Providence Convent and Incarnate Word Convent, both in Normandy, Missouri.; St. Anthony Hospital in St. Louis; and St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, Missouri. He was priest in residence at St. Simon Parish in Concord Village, Missouri; Mary, Mother of the Church Parish in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Peter Parish in St. Charles, Missouri; and St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in St. Charles, Missouri.
In August 2023 Msgr. Hampe became a resident at Regina Cleri Home, where he enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow retired priests and appreciated the caring, skillful staff. With his happy, congenial demeanor, he became a loved member of the Regina Cleri community.
Msgr. Hampe had a great sense of humor and lived a joyful life. He was a voracious reader with a passion for learning. He was a compassionate spiritual counselor and a loyal friend. His thoughtfulness, kindness, and holiness will be greatly missed by all who knew him. One of his favorite words to describe the milestones and achievements of those who were close to him was “WOW!”, which is truly a perfect word to describe the life of Raymond Hampe.
Services: A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 19 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2 Seton Ct., St. Charles, Missouri 63303 at 11 a.m. Msgr. Hampe donated his body to St. Louis University School of Medicine.
Condolences(7)-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Previous Robert Simcox
Next Harry Dengler
Carolyn Zerjav says
June 25, 2024 at 4:20 amFather Hampe was a great inspiration to my husband and I. We both worked at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Saint Charles for many years. Father Hampe married us at Saint Peter Church of Saint Charles in the July of 2000. Father Hampe was such a blessing to all who knew him. Father Hampe, thank you for all the many ways you have quietly lead and made a positive difference in our community! May you receive well deserved peace.
Gregory Warnusz says
June 13, 2024 at 4:58 pmWhen I was in Kenrick Seminary in the early 1970’s, seminary leaders engaged Father Hampe to give us all a retreat. He spoke about Saint Paul, writing in his letter to the Philippians, chapter 3, declaring — and I paraphrase — “Everything I counted as gain I now regard as loss, in order that I might gain Christ, and have a share in his resurrection by reproducing the pattern of his death.” Hearing that from Ray was very liberating for me, and I’m still grateful.
ROBERT ZINSER says
June 8, 2024 at 10:13 pmBelieve Holy Family his first assignment, & I was in 7th grade. Went ice skating with him & others, etc. It was in 7th grade I thought I might become a priest myself and just celebrated 56 yrs, inspired by Ray Hampe.
Kathie says
June 7, 2024 at 1:04 amin keeping with his demeanor and his beautiful self, Msgr. Hampe was a “quiet inspiration” to me in all my daily activities. God bless you Monsignor Hampe for all you gave.
Bill Rogers says
June 6, 2024 at 6:42 pmThanks Ray for being a great Friend, a great teacher and a great Spiritual Confidant!!!
Pat Kottmann says
June 5, 2024 at 4:14 pmSo sorry for your loss, Father Hampe was my favorite priest ever!
What a wonderful man, I loved his homilies, he could say more in 5 minutes than others could take 30 minutes to TRY to say!
Chris says
June 5, 2024 at 3:30 pmA life well-led! What a wonderful servant he was. I only knew him when he was at St. Joseph’s Hospital St. Charles – and would go to the masses on Sunday because I loved his sermons! “Before your feet hit the floor in the morning …” and he would give us all a penance to do for the week!
Rest in Peace Msgr – you will be missed by many