Rev. John Joseph Tamulis

Rev. John Joseph Tamulis was born on 18 March 1915 in London to John and Julia (Sarocka) Tamulis, but he spent most of his life in Lithuania. He completed his early schooling in Jurbarkis before attending the Kaunas Seminary. In 1940, he earned a degree in Theology and Philosophy from Vytautas Didysis University in Kaunas.  He was was ordained on 16 June 1940 at Kaunas.

During the first Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1941, Father Tamulis left the country, traveling via China, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, before arriving in Queensland, Australia. He later arrived in Sydney by Pan-American Clipper.

In 1946, he moved to London, where he assisted at St. Casimir’s Lithuanian parish, before relocating to Los Angeles. In November 1948, he was appointed to serve the spiritual needs of Catholic Balts at the Bathurst Training Centre for Displaced Persons in Australia. During this time, he also served as chaplain to two schools and Australian and American army camps. Later, he became assistant priest at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane. Archbishop McGuire, President of the Federal Catholic Immigration Committee in Sydney, specifically requested him to work with Lithuanian migrants in Australia.

Father Tamulis also served in London before coming to Los Angeles in 1946 and spent four months in Chicago. In 1950, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served in numerous parishes, including Carson City, Cheboygan, Ionia, Muskegon, Hastings, Cadillac, and Roscommon. He retired in Cadillac in 1991 yet continued to celebrate Mass at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Harrietta, Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, and Lakeview Lutheran Manor in Cadillac.

Father John was a Catholic priest for 70 years and served as chaplain for the Third-Degree Knights of Columbus Council 1224 and the Fourth-Degree Council 1946 for 30 years. He loved trees and enjoyed feeding wildlife on his property. A skilled woodworker, he built many of the pieces of furniture in his home.

Rev. John Joseph Tamulis passed away on 10 October 2010 at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, at the age of 95. He is interred at Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Cadillac. 

References

Advocate Melbourne Thursday 2 Dec 1948 page 4
Catholic Weekly, Thursday 17 March 1949
Kaliforijos Lietuvis Nov 1948, Vol III

Erin Joynt Cadillac News Oct 13, 2010 Updated Oct 12, 2017