COLUMBIA — Msgr. Donald Clarence Hamburger, a retired priest in the Diocese of Charleston, died Dec. 18 at the age of 86. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 21 at St. Peter Church.
Msgr. Hamburger was born June 28, 1918, in Celina, Ohio. He was a son of the late August Francis and Estella Bernard Hamburger.
Msgr. Hamburger attended St. Peter’s Parochial School and Wardlaw Junior High and graduated from Columbia High School. He attended St. Gregory Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Norwood, Ohio.
Msgr. Hamburger was ordained to the priesthood on July 14, 1946, by Bishop Emmet M. Walsh at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston. He was named monsignor on Sept. 12, 1963.
During his 58 years of ministry, Msgr. Hamburger was associate pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Church, St. Joseph Church, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and St. Mary Church in Charleston. He served as administrator at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Charleston and St. John of the Cross Church in Batesburg. Msgr. Hamburger was pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Camden, St. Joseph Church in Charleston, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Greenwood, Corpus Christi Church in Lexington, St. Peter Church in Beaufort, St. James Church in Conway and Church of the Resurrection Mission in Loris. He studied canon law for two years at St. Leo Church in Chicago, Ill., and was a first lieutenant and chaplain in the National Guard of the United States.
Msgr. Hamburger retired as pastor in 1991, but continued his priestly ministry until his death.
Msgr. Hamburger served on the faculty at Bishop England High School and was vice-chancellor and officialis for the diocese. He was a synodal judge of the Tribunal, dean of the Midlands Deanery and deacon for the Synod. He served as a member of the Matrimonial Tribunal, the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors. He was moderator of the Columbia Deanery Council of Catholic Men and the state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus.
Msgr. Hamburger is survived by two sisters-in-law, Eleanor Watson Hamburger and Eoline Bradford Hamburger of Columbia; 13 nieces and nephews; and 29 grandnieces and grandnephews.
Donations may be made to the St. Joseph Residence, c/o Catholic Charities, 1662 Ingram Road, Charleston, SC 29407.