Sister Joachim Holthaus, OSB, 93, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Thursday, August 27, 2015, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Sunday, August 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there on Monday, August 31, at 10:30 a.m.
Born in Seneca, Kansas, she entered the Mount community in 1941 after graduating from Sts. Peter and Paul High School there. She earned an M.A. in music from the Chicago Musical College and a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Southern California. She also did advance studies in music at the University of Salzburg Austria, Loyola University - New Orleans, and Columbia University. For five summers she taught Gregorian Chant at the Saratoga Potsdam Choral Institute.
A distinguished musician and teacher, Sister Joachim taught music at Mount St. Scholastica College, continuing at Benedictine College, from 1951 until 1989, chairing the department from 1961 to 1981. In 1990, she founded the Mount Conservatory of Music, where she continued to teach organ, piano, and harp until the age of 90. Sister Joachim also served as monastery schola (choir) director and organist, chair of the liturgy team, vice-president of the community senate, and was twice a delegate to the general chapter of the Federation of St. Scholastica. She was vice-president of the Atchison Community Concerts Association, a member of the American Benedictine Academy and Benedictine Musicians of America, the American Musicological Society, American Harp Society and Sigma Alpha Iota, and was the first female Rotary International member in Kansas. Named “Educator of the Year” at Benedictine College in 1985, she also performed concerts in several states and composed music used in Benedictine monasteries throughout the country.
Sister Joachim was preceded in death by her parents F. Joseph and Centa Bernreiter Holthaus, by her brothers John and Leonard Holthaus and by her sisters Regina Runnebaum, Clara Nicholson and Alma Runnebaum. She is survived by her brothers Joseph (Fran) and William (Salie) Holthaus, both of Omaha, Neb., a sister, Melanie Schmiedeler of Kansas City, Mo., nieces, nephews, and her monastic family. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home (www.beckerdyer.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s web site (www.mountosb.org).