The funeral Mass for Father W. Charles Heiser, SJ, will be celebrated at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at St. Francis Xavier "College" Church on Lindell Blvd. in St. Louis. The visitation will be immediately beforehand at 6 p.m. in the same location.

A longtime librarian at St. Louis University, Father Heiser died Sept. 15 in St. Louis. He was 95 years old, a Jesuit for 77 years and a priest for 64 years.

Born on March 16, 1922, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant on Sept. 1, 1940. Following profession of first vows, he studied philosophy at St. Louis University, earning bachelor's degrees in Latin, Greek and English and a master's and licentiate in Latin and Greek.

He taught for three years at St. Louis University High (1947-50) before studying theology at St. Mary's College in St. Marys, Kan., earning the licentiate in sacred theology in 1955. He was ordained on June 17, 1953, at St Mary's College. He pronounced final vows on Feb. 3, 1958, also in St. Marys.

He earned a master's degree in library science from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in 1959.

Father Heiser's lifelong ministry was as librarian, beginning at the Jesuit theologate at St. Mary's (1955-67). When that course of studies was moved to St. Louis University, Father Heiser ensured the continued excellence of the Divinity Library. Once the St. Louis University Divinity School closed, he became a librarian at St. Louis University, and continued until he retired in 2011.

When Father Heiser celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Jesuit, Father General Peter Hans Kolvenbach wrote, "In both your professional expertise and in your gifts of personality and spirit you have gifted your brother Jesuits in many diverse ways."

Father Heiser is survived by his brother, William.