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Luther H. Fenker, 51, Choir Director, Succumbs

Luther H. Fenker, 51, Choir Director, Succumbs image
Parent Issue
Day
4
Month
January
Year
1960
Copyright
Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
Obituary
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Luther H. Fenker, 51, Choir Director, Succumbs

YPSILANTI—Luther H. Fenker, brother of City Clerk Elizabeth E. Fenker and a noted choir director here for more than 29 years, died at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor early yesterday morning after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage at his local home Saturday night.

Mr. Fenker, 51, lived with his sister at 1111 Sherman St. He was the son of the late Rev. Hugo Fenker, pastor of the Emmanual Lutheran Church here for many years until his death 16 years ago.

Mr. Fenker was honored in 1958 for his 25 years of service as choir director of Emmanual Lutheran Church. He developed and directed the church’s junior, intermediate and senior choirs.

He also organized and directed the Ped-Ford Chorus, sponsored by the local Ford Motor Co. plant, where he had been employed for more than 28 years.

Born June 6, 1908, at Rome, 0., the son of the late Rev. Mr. and Elizabeth A. Borske Fenker, Mr. Fenker had lived in Ypsilanti for 48 years. A 1925 graduate of Ypsilanti High School, he received a bachelor of science degree in music at Eastern Michigan University in 1931. He also was an alumnus of the Fred Waring School of Music.

Mr. Fenker began working for the Ford company following his graduation from college and was a methods and systems analyst at the Rawsonville plant at the time of his death.

Mr. Fenker, choir director at his church since 1930, arranged and directed the annual community Christmas festivals here in recent years. He was also a noted horticulturist, known for his work in growing and developing roses.

In addition to Miss Fenker, survivors include a brother, Ted E. Fenker, a former City Council member; two nieces, Barbara A. and Susan A. Fenker, two nephews, Robert B. and Gary H. Fenker, all of Ypsilanti; two aunts, an uncle and several cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Emmanual Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Harley C. Sipe officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Arrangements are being made by the Moore Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 p.m. today until 11 a.m. Wednesday. Contributions may be made to the music expansion fund of Capital University in Columbus, 0.