KALAMAZOO — Rev. David C. Adams, 75, a senior priest for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, died Thursday after a courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation will be this Sunday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home in Kalamazoo.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Monday, Oct. 17, at St. Augustine Cathedral, Kalamazoo.

Fr. Adams will be laid to rest at St. John’s Cemetery in Jackson, Mich.

“While we are saddened at the tremendous loss of Fr. Adams and his untiring commitment to the Catholic Church, we are comforted by the fact that he has eternal rest with our Lord,” said The Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley, Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo.

“Fr. Adams leaves an amazing legacy for the Diocese of Kalamazoo as a witness to the gospel and as a priest for close to 50 years. He will be fondly remembered for his smile, sharp wit and selflessness.”

Fr. Adams’ close to 50 years as a priest touched lives across Michigan.

Previous to his retirement in 2007, Fr. Adams was pastor of St. Ann Parish, Augusta.

Additionally he was pastor of the following parishes in the diocese: Ss. John/Bernard Parish, Benton Harbor; Holy Maternity, Dowagiac, Sacred Heart of Mary, Silver Creek; Immaculate Conception, Three Rivers; St. Joseph Parish, White Pigeon; and St. Clare, Centreville.

Fr. Adams was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lansing Dec. 20, 1961, by Archbishop Martin J. O’Connor at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.

He began his priestly ministry for the Diocese of Lansing as an assistant pastor for St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing.

Fr. Adams also ministered at St. Joseph, Battle Creek and St. Agnes, Flint before the creation of the Diocese of Kalamazoo in 1971.

Fr. Adams was born Feb. 13, 1936, in Ann Arbor to James C. Adams Sr. and Frances (Disenroth) Adams.

He attended Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

urviving are his siblings, James Jr. (Martha) Adams, George T. Adams and fiance Sherry Andrews, Cathie (Bob) Spurrier, and Mary L. Mortensen; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; and a great-great nephew.

Memorial donations may be directed to St. Vincent dePaul Society or The Society of the Propagation of the Faith.

The Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo is the territory of Catholic churches and community led by Bishop Paul J. Bradley.

The diocese was founded in 1971 when the Second Vatican Council called for the creation of smaller dioceses so bishops could be more available to the people they serve.

Today the diocese encompasses 5,337 square miles of nine counties in southwest Michigan:

Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch.