Father Michael Duesterhaus, a devoted priest in the Diocese of Arlington, died on August 23, 2026 at age 61.
Born on June 29, 1965 in Tuscola, Illinois to Richard and Judith “Judie” (Krapausky) Duesterhaus, Fr. Duesterhaus was the third of eight children. During his childhood, he and his family lived in several states, including Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Maine and Virginia.
He graduated from Bishop O’Connell High School (Arlington, Virginia). He responded to a call to the priesthood and entered Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in 1983. He was ordained on May 18, 1991 as a diocesan priest for the Diocese of Arlington (Virginia). He completed several advanced degrees including a doctoral degree.
During 35 years of priestly ministry, Fr. Duesterhaus served multiple parishes within the Arlington Diocese, including St. Anthony Church (Falls Church) as a transitional deacon, Holy Spirit (Annandale), St. Theresa (Ashburn), St. Michael (Annandale), St. William of York (Stafford), St. Patrick (Fredericksburg), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Lake Ridge), Corpus Christi (South Riding), St. Timothy (Chantilly), Sacred Heart of Jesus (Winchester), St. John the Baptist (Front Royal) and over a year as the chaplain for Fairfax Hospital.
In addition to serving in his diocesan assignments, Fr. Duesterhaus was a U.S. Navy Chaplain who served extensively with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was commissioned as an Ensign in 1988 and served tours at many sites: Okinawa, Japan; Guam; Fallujah, Iraq; Ramadi, Iraq (twice); Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti; and Diego Garcia. He retired honorably from the U.S. Navy Reserve Chaplain Corps in 2015 as a Lieutenant Commander.
He had a particular gift for connecting with people. He will be remembered by parishioners, friends, and family for his warm, welcoming personality and his stalwart commitment to faithfully serving his parishioners and Marines, helping to bring them closer to God.
Beyond his formal ministry, Fr. Duesterhaus was a true friend and an engaging story teller with a wonderful sense of humor. Those closest to him knew him as a man whose greatest joy was serving others.
He is survived by his father, Rich Duesterhaus; his sisters, Kathy Murphy (Dan) and Lynn Deboeck (Pascal); and his brothers, Steve Duesterhaus, Dan Duesterhaus (Margo), Alan Duesterhaus (Molly), Tom Duesterhaus, and Greg Duesterhaus (Megan). He is survived by 21 nephews and nieces and their families as well as nine great-nephews and nieces. He is also survived by seven aunts and uncles and their families.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Judie Duesterhaus; and his stepmother, Jude (Mollenhauer) Duesterhaus.
Vespers for the Dead will be held on Sunday, August 30 at 7:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 120 South Main Street, Front Royal, VA. A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, August 31 at 10:30 am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, Virginia. A private burial will follow at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Fr. Michael Duesterhaus’ life was a faithful response to God’s call, expressed through his service to the Church and his care for all who were entrusted to him. May he rest in peace.
Dear Rich, what a wonderful son, man and priest. I am so sorry for your loss, too early. This tribute was splendid.
Vivian B , friend of Yan Ni and Jude.
Members of The Serra Club of Arlington VA offer heartfelt condolences and promise of continued prayers for the blessed repose of the soul of Rev Father Michael Duesterhaus.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine;
Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace.
We were so pleased to have known you at St William of York. It gives us comfort to know we will see you again when our Journey is finished. Until then pray for us.
Semper Fi Marine
Dear Duesterhaus Family,
I was at the US Embassy in Djibouti when your son served at Camp Lemonnier. He was the best chaplain I could have asked for and his ministry was divinely inspired. May he rest in peace and may Our Lord grant you solace.
In Christ,
José R Mercado
Father D was amazing at Holy Spirit Church.
He gave loud well prepared sermons .
He trained the altar servers and had every boy wanting to become one.
He was an exceptional priest and person. He will be missed but now has his well deserved rest and time with his savior. We are praying for him and his family. The Humphrey family.
A great priest and military chaplain who brought many positive changes to St. William of York in Stafford. Father Duesterhaus had a genuine gift for connecting with people, and his leadership, faith and dedication had such a positive impact on our parish and on so many individual parishioners.
His service to God, his country and the people entrusted to his care leaves a lasting legacy. He will be greatly missed and always remembered with gratitude and affection.
May God bless Father Duesterhaus, welcome him into eternal rest, and bring comfort and peace to his entire family.
God bless you, Father Duesterhaus.
He was a year ahead of me at O’Connell High School. May he rest in Peace.
Dear Duesterhaus Family,
I was stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti with your son when he deployed with the USNR to support the Catholic community. He helped me immensely to get closer to Our Lord during many Masses at the Base Chapel which he named for St Josephine Bakhita. He was always a beacon of joy. Thank you for that time with your son. St Bakhita, pray for us. St Michael, pray for us. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Brian Baker
He had a way of putting me at ease in Confession — he’d open up with, “So what are you in for… Murder? Grand Theft Auto?” It always gave me a sigh of relief that my sins, apparently, were of lesser magnitude. And yet he had a pastoral yet effective way of putting me in my place… “you’re not 18 anymore… it’s time to grow up.” (I’m in my mid-50’s). And to think that it wasn’t him but it was Jesus speaking to me through him in a way that reached me personally, with such a powerful connection, but through a living person and face to face with eye contact and all that it entails, that’s what I fondly remember about Father Deusterhaus. Plus he had a badass Jeep Gladiator owing to his Humvee days in Iraq where he served our country and our servicemen and women with honor and distinction. He gave such a fine address at the Memorial Day event at the courthouse a few years ago. What a guy. He loved America, and he loved Front Royal. He loved the simplicity and grit and authenticity and Catholicity of this place, and in every homily he was making constant wisecracks about his life and lot therein, yet tearing up about God’s providence. And then he faced turbocancer with humility, patience, and ultimately, total surrender to The Divine Will. RIP Father Deusterhaus. You will be missed until we catch up to you in the world to come.
Dear Duesterhaus family,
I was raised Catholic and catechized in the 1980s, not the best time for our faith, as Fr. Michael would often say. I left the church once I turned 18 and did not really think about the faith for over 35 years until my wife and I decided to get married in 2024. We met with Fr Michael and he inspired my wife and I to return to the church. Shortly before our wedding I sat down with him to confesses over 35 years of sin. While he could be one tough man, in this instance he was warm and kind, this lifted a great weight off my shoulders. My wife and returned fully to the faith and have considered Fr Michael a kind of spiritual father to us. In the short time of knowing him we developed a friendship and would have lunch together every couple of months to catch up. My wife and I would just like you to know how much of a difference he made in our lives and thanks to him we both look forward to seeing him again in the Kingdom of Heaven. We will never forget him. May he rest in peace.
Gio and Cinthia Russo
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for allowing our family‘s path to cross with Father D’s in Okinawa, so many years ago. Only You can comprehend the impact this man had on us! Thank you for your service to God and country, Father Deusterhaus! Eternal rest and perpetual light…
Dear Duesterhaus Family,
Our deepest condolences on the loss of your son/brother. We were your back yard neighbor in Vienna and heard about this in church last Sunday as mass was said for Michael.
The Stauth Family
Father Duesterhaus was a key member of our family for nearly 30 years and will be tremendously missed by many. His faith was unquestionable, prominent, and the center of his life and he brought that to so many others, as was his passion and his mission in life. We had the privilege of talking with him the day before he passed and so wish there could be more conversations.
Our prayers for his family and for Father Duesterhaus that he may rest in the perpetual light or our Lord and continued eternal service in heaven with Mary, Joseph, and all the angels and saints.
The Kessler Family