DEABORN — During his decades of service to the Church in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Fr. Lawrence Herman Kaiser touched countless lives.
"He was a nice guy, a good priest, and he always tried do the right things for people, to be a good pastor to them," said Fr. Ken Chase, a fellow priest and one of Fr. Kaiser's successors as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Dearborn.
A priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit for 62 years, Fr. Kaiser passed away May 3, 2026, at the age of 88. He was laid to rest on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dearborn.
In a 2004 interview with a Southfield newspaper, the News-Herald, Fr. Kaiser reflected on his priesthood, and the "indelible mark" it left on his heart.
Although the article was written near the time of his retirement after already 40 years of service, Fr. Kaiser had an additional 22 years to reach the faithful in Metro Detroit, which he did joyfully.
Fr. Kaiser was born on March 5, 1938, in Dearborn, the son of Herman and Caroline Kaiser, one of five children. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, the University of Detroit and St. John’s Provincial Seminary in Plymouth. On June 6, 1964, he was ordained a priest for the archdiocese at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.
He celebrated his first Mass at St. Clement Parish in Dearborn.
Fr. Kaiser served at many parishes across the archdiocese, including as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dearborn (1999-2008); St. Albert the Great Parish, Dearborn Heights (1988-99); and St. Gerard Parish, Detroit (1973-88). He served as administrator of St. Edith Parish, Livonia (2010), and as vicar for the Old Dearborn Vicariate.
Fr. Kaiser also served as parochial vicar for St. Mary of Redford Parish, Detroit (1971-73); St. Angela Parish, Roseville (1969-71); and Our Lady of the Lakes Parish, Waterford (1964-69). Fr. Kaiser received senior status on July 1, 2008.
Additionally, Fr. Kaiser served on the Presbyteral Council in 2007-08. He received the Cardinal Mooney Award in 1982, after studying in Dublin, Ireland, for three months.
In his 2004 interview, Fr. Kaiser spoke about the challenges and joys of being a priest.
“There are many sides to being a priest,” Fr. Kaiser said. “Some are challenging, some are very joyful.”
Fr. Kaiser continued by reflecting on the lives he had touched over his decades of priesthood, explaining that he had recently received a call from a young man who had first met him at age 15. Years later, he called Fr. Kaiser to thank him for his impact on his life.
“When I see people and their families grow, I feel fatherly, and it’s good,” Fr. Kaiser added.
In addition to the many lives he touched from the pulpit, Fr. Kaiser was well-loved by his family, particularly his nieces and nephews, Fr. Chase said.
"He was very close to his family, and very devoted to his nieces and nephews, his siblings and parents, until their deaths," Fr. Chase said. "He made it a point, as each generation came along, to get to know his great nieces and great nephews."
According to Fr. Kaiser's obituary, he participated in each of their baptisms, confirmations and first Communions.
“His family was always a priority, spending hours at family events doing what he loves-dancing with his nieces and nephew while his sister played the piano.”
In addition to being a priest, Fr. Kaiser was a "very versatile athlete," Fr. Chase added.
"He snow skied, water skied, played hockey, golf, tennis — he liked those things," Fr. Chase said.
"His family told me that when he was young and playing hockey, the protective gear that hockey players wore at the time wasn't as elaborate as it is today. One of his siblings took his mom to a game, and she said, 'I will never go back to another game,' because she was sure he was going to get hurt," Fr. Chase laughed.
Fr. Kaiser also enjoyed spending time with his fellow priests, often vacationing at a cottage in Milford where he and friends would stay.
Fr. Kaiser was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Jack, Eugene, and Dale. He is survived by his sister, Diane Fisher; his nephew, Scott Fisher; his nieces, Robyn Fisher and Sherri Burke; his great-nieces; and his great-nephew.
