Donald Joseph Kettler
Donald Joseph Kettler (born November 26, 1944) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud from 2013 to 2022. Kettler previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks from 2002 to 2013. Biography Early life Donald Kettler was born on November 26, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Norbert Joseph 'Joe' Kettler and Marguerite Raiche. His family later moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Kettler and his three siblings (Jim, Beth, and Kathleen) were raised. He received undergraduate and divinity degrees at Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, Priesthood Kettler was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Lambert Hoch for the Diocese of Sioux Falls on May 29, 1970. After his ordination, Kettler served as an associate pastor in parishes in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and Sioux Falls. In 1979, he left the parishes to begin coordinating work for the diocesan offices in Sioux Falls. In 1981, Kettler entered the Catholic University of America School of Canon Law in Washington, D.C., obtaining his Licentiate of Canon Law. After returning to South Dakota in 1983, he was named judicial vicar and resumed his work coordinating diocesan offices from 1984 to 1987.