Fr. Gerald Thaar, OSC, 79, died Feb. 18 in Onamia, Minn.

Born Sept. 7, 1937, in Detroit to William and Adeline (Polin), he was the second of three brothers. He entered the Crosier Order on Aug. 27, 1958, making first profession Aug. 28, 1959. He was ordained a priest on May 22, 1965.

Fr. Thaar’s assignments were to the Crosier missions in the Diocese of Agats in Asmat, Papua, in the rain forests of Indonesia for 27 years. Following his return to the United States, he served St. Dennis Parish in Royal Oak, as a member of the Crosier community of Riverview, and Blessed Sacrament in Scottsdale, Ariz., and in the Phoenix Priory.

In 2014, Fr. Jerry moved to the Crosier Priory at Onamia. He is survived by a small extended family and by his Crosier confreres.

Funeral services were celebrated Feb. 22 at the Crosier Priory Church in Onamia. Burial is in the Priory cemetery.