Rupert Hohmann
1928 - 2018
Obituary
Rupert Karl Hohmann, 90, died Monday
(Aug. 13, 2018) at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton.
He was born on Feb. 21, 1928, in
Newton, the son of Dr. Walter Hugo and Elsbeth Hedwig Roessler
Hohmann. His father was Chairman of the Music Department at Bethel
College. He was a pianist, organist and choir director with an
expertise in Theory. Dr. Hohmann also founded the Bethel College
acapella choir. Rupert's mother was a pianist.
Rupert attended schools in Newton,
including Newton High School his freshman year. He transferred to
Mennonite Bible Academy at Bethel College, graduating on May 17,
1946. Rupert attended Bethel College and graduated in 1949 with a
B.A. in Music. After finishing Bethel, he was a student at the
University of Wichita, where he graduated with a Master of Music
Degree in 1951. During these years, Rupert joined the Wichita
Symphony Orchestra as a violinist. He was the first Newtonian to join
this orchestra.
From 1953 until 1955, during the Korean
War, Rupert spent two years doing I-W service at the Philadelphia
State Mental Hospital. He worked in the Music Therapy Department.
Rupert did his doctorate work at
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated with a
Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1959. His dissertation was "The
Liturgical Music of the Old Order Amish Church." He also did
post-doctoral work at Yale University in 1965.
From 1963 until 1966, Rupert was Head
of the Music Department and Conservatory at Muskingum College in New
Concord, Ohio. During this time, Elvera Voth invited Rupert to
Anchorage, Alaska, to play in a festival orchestra conducted by
Robert Shaw for a week of concerts sponsored by the University of
Alaska.
For the next 23 years, Rupert joined
the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Clair Campus. From
1966 until 1989, he was conductor of the university orchestra and
taught violin and graduate courses. He conducted the orchestra for
the annual alternating opera or musical show productions.
In 1989, Rupert retired from the
University of Wisconsin as Emeritus Professor of Music and returned
to North Newton, where he lived in his childhood home.
Rupert is preceded in death by his
parents; and two sisters, Gertrude Elizabeth Dyck and Randalin A.
Bargdill.
Survivors include his nieces and
nephew: Elsbeth Dyck Schafer and husband Todd of Topeka, Gary
Bargdill and wife Mary Ann of Blue Rapids, Rebecca Bargdill Fortney
and husband Phil, and Deborah Bargdill Love and husband Rob, all of
Topeka; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
Memorial services will be held at 11
a.m. Wednesday (Aug. 22, 2018) at Bethel College Mennonite Church.
Private interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been
established with Bethel College Mennonite Church and the Rupert
Hohmann String Scholarship at Bethel College. Contributions may be
sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS
67114.
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com.
"Give me an 'A.'"
Arrangements by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home, Newton.
