- Date Of Death: January 1, 2010
- State: Pennsylvania
Henrietta Moyer Landis Jahnsen, 93, of Quakertown, PA died May 26, 2010 at the Rockhill Mennonite Community Center. She was the wife of the late James Thoralf Dietrichson Jahnsen. Mrs. Jahnsen was a music teacher and administrator in Quakertown area school for over 40 years, as well as an exemplary organist, choir director, pianist, genealogist, author, mentor, historian, and teacher educator. She authored several books such as Ascendants and Descendants of Ephraim Rosenberger Landes and Old Durner Pipe Organs Continue to Speak (Durner organs were made in Quakertown). Foremost and for three generations, Mrs. Jahnsen inspired young people to appreciate music and motivated many to pursue a career in the profession. Mrs. Jahnsen was born in Leesport, PA, a daughter of the late Rev. Elbert Ephraim Campbell Landis and Henrietta Kern Moyer Landis. Rev. Landis was pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Richlandtown, PA and was responsible for construction of the church where Mrs. Jahnsen was a faithful member. In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Jahnsen was preceded in death by her four brothers, William and Luther, who died as infants; her brother, Elbert, who died in 2000; her brother, Oliver, who died in 2008; and her sister, Olive Landis Horner, who died in January 2010. She is survived by her sister, Ellen Landis Breon Weaver of Clearwater, FL; her sister-in-law Kathryn Biehn Landis of Quakertown; her nephew, Steven Elbert Landis; her niece, Barbara Ellen Breon Anthony and her husband Craig; her nephew, Robert Herman Breon III and his wife Joan; her niece, Mary Ellen Horner Whyte and her husband Edward; their daughter Heather Whyte McFeeley, and husband Michael; their son Chadford James Whyte and his wife, Amy; as the McFeeley and Whyte’s five great-grand nieces and a great-grand nephew. Mrs. Jahnsen was graduated from Penn State University with a B. S. degree in music education and then from Trenton State University, NJ with a M. A. degree. In addition, she completed many courses at other universities and colleges. Mrs. Jahnsen’s first teaching assignment was at the Hilltown School and then she her long career in the Quakertown Public schools where she served as teacher, music supervisor and eventually department chairperson. As a teacher educator at Trenton State University she helped other music teachers develop the creative teaching techniques she developed during her career. In addition, she was a choir director and organist at various churches, for example, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Richlandtown, St. Michael’s Lutheran in Sellersville, St. John’s Lutheran in Quakertown, and St. James Lutheran in Chalfont. At the same time she was a member of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the American Revolution. The Jeffrey A.
