ATLANTA—Father Joseph M. Peek passed away on Monday, March 14, surrounded by his parents and siblings in prayer.

Father Peek was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in February 2002, the year of his ordination to the priesthood, and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2003. He suffered severe complications during the remaining years of his life, including graft-versus-host disease and then squamous cell carcinoma. He was 50 years old.

The son of Joseph and Mary Peek, Father Joseph was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 2002 by Archbishop John F. Donoghue at the age of 36. He is the eldest son and one of 11 children.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served as a helicopter air crewman and rescue swimmer, Father Joseph was co-sponsored in the seminary by the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services and the Archdiocese of Atlanta. He aspired to serve as a naval chaplain.

A priest of the archdiocese for almost 14 years, he served at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Kennesaw, Mary Our Queen Church and St. Patrick Church in Norcross, and All Saints Church in Dunwoody.

The wake will be held all night on Thursday, March 17, starting at 7 p.m. at All Saints Church, 2443 Mount Vernon Road, Dunwoody.

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will celebrate the funeral Mass at All Saints Church on Friday, March 18, at 11 a.m. Father Kevin Peek, brother of Father Joseph Peek, will be the homilist.

A reception will follow in All Saints’ Social Hall.

Father Peek’s burial will be at the Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Veterans Cemetery Road, in Canton.

Condolences and cards may be sent to: Ms. Mary Elkins for the Peek Family, The Archdiocese of Atlanta, 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna, GA 30080. Memorial donations have been requested for the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Family, 510 East Gore Road, Erie, PA 16509.