Rev. William Joseph Sullivan, 79, of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 19, 2026. Fr. Bill was born on May 14, 1946, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Eileen and James Sullivan. He was raised in Presque Isle, Maine, before moving to Fort Wayne with his family in eighth grade, and attended Saint John the Baptist, a parish he called home. He was a proud graduate of Bishop Luers High School in 1964 and remained the most loyal supporter of the school through his final days. He attended the seminary at Saint Gregory and Mount St. Mary's in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was ordained a Catholic priest to the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese on May 20, 1972.

Fr. Bill faithfully served many parishes, including St. Jude in Fort Wayne, St. Joseph in Fort Wayne, St. Monica in Mishawaka, St. Thomas the Apostle in Elkhart, and St. John the Baptist in New Haven. In addition to the countless sacraments he celebrated with parishioners, he could always be found at the sidelines of every sports game and in the seats of every theater performance. Fr. Bill was known for his personal and often humorous homilies. He took joy in being the past moderator of the CYO athletic program in Fort Wayne, a member of the Marian High School Board, and a member of the Bishop Luers High School Board.

He is survived by his siblings, Eileen (Myron) Brodmerkel, James Sullivan, and Joan (Daniel) Bourbonnais. He was the cherished "Uncle Billy" to his nieces and nephews, Patrick Rawlins, Bridget (Jason) Jacoby, Colin (Mara) Brodmerkel, Caitlin (Alex) Krouse, Brendan Rawlins, Deirdre (Brian) Goshert, and Neil Rawlins. He adored his great-nieces and nephews, William, Eddie, Cecilia, Ella, Emmett, James, Luca, Mary, and Markus. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Glen Rawlins, and his niece, Alana Bourbonnais.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am Wednesday February 25, 2026 in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 4500 S. Fairfield Ave. (Fort Wayne) with visitation from 10-11am in the church. Visitation is also from 3-7pm Tuesday in the church, with a Vigil Service at 6:30pm. Arrangements through Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. (Fort Wayne). Burial in Catholic Cemetery. The family's preferred memorials are Masses or donations to Bishop Luers High School, online at www.bishopluers.org, or by mail to 333 E. Paulding Rd, Attn: Mission Advancement, Fort Wayne, IN 46816;  St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, online at saintjohnfortwayne.com or by mail to 4525 Arlington Ave, Ft Wayne, IN 46807, or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne, online at https://svdpsfw.org, or by mail to 1600 S. Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802, or to the Diocesan Seminarian Fund, P.O.Box 390, Fort Wayne, IN 46801, Att: Joseph Ryan. To share a remembrance of Fr. Bill or to offer condolences to his family, please visit www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com .

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,

and let Perpetual Light shine upon him.

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