Rev. Joseph E. McDermott, SVD, 99, of Techny, Il and formerly of the Divine Word Seminary College in Epworth, IA passed away on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Divine Word Seminary in Techny, IL.

A Mass will be offered at Friday, September 12, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Word Residence chapel in Techny,

Visitation for Fr. Joseph will be held from 7 until 9 p.m., Friday September 12, 2025 at Divine Word Seminary in Epworth, Iowa, and also 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Divine Word Chapel in Epworth, Iowa, where A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m.  Burial will be held in St. John’s Cemetery in Placid, Iowa. The Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth is in charge of arrangements.

He was born December 11, 1925, in Bankston, Iowa, son of Ambrose and Ruth (White) McDermott.  He attended St. Clement’s grade school, St. Paul’s Mission House High School and ten years of seminary training at St. Mary’s Mission House in Techny, Illinois.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1952, he received his mission appointment to New Guinea in 1953, where he spent twenty- three years of missionary service.  From 1976 until 1999 he worked in the Development Office at Divine Word College.  He retired from this assignment in 1999 and spent his remaining years at Epworth until May of 2024 when he moved to Techny, IL.

He is survived by one brother, Patrick (Patricia) McDermott of Epworth; one sister, Beatrice  Soens of Dubuque; four sisters-in-law, Madeline McDermott of Menominee, IL, Patricia McDermott of Epworth, IA, Shirley McDermott of Cascade, IA and Maureen McDermott of Manchester, MO; and many nieces, their spouses and their children.

He is preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Michael, Thomas, Anthony, Linus, Camillus and Jerome McDermott; three sisters, Mary Joan Ernst, Helen Ann Kraemer, and Frances Raab; sisters and brothers-in-laws, Don Kraemer, Dave Raab, Richard Soens, James Ernst, Lois McDermott and Erica McDermott.

Per Fr. Joe’s request, memorials gifts or donations should be directed to the A & R Trust Fund at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa.