Memorial service for Dr. Falkenstein set for Wednesday

Mon, September 16, 2002 |

A memorial service celebrating the life of the late Dr. Henning Falkenstein, professor of foreign languages and literatures at Valparaiso University, will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Chapel of the Resurrection.

Dr. Falkenstein, 67, died Sept. 11 in Valparaiso following a brief illness.

Dr. Falkenstein was raised in Germany, where he earned his doctoral degree from Philipps-Universitat in Marburg. He joined the University faculty in 1963 and was promoted to full professor in 1977. He served as chair of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures from 1987-90 and was head of the German section for many years. He also served on numerous University committees, including the International Economics and Cultural Affairs Advisory Committee and the Arts and Sciences Scholarship and Advising Committee. He served as an academic advisor for students and a faculty adviser for sororities.

He is author of numerous books on German literary figures, including Peter Weiss, Nelly Sachs, Luise Rinser, Hans Carossa and Heinrich Boll.

He also was an accomplished violinist, performing for many years with the University Symphony Orchestra.

He is survived by his two daughters, Ulrike Falkenstein-Recht and Gisela Sitzler, their mother, Barbara Falkenstein, a part-time instructor in foreign languages and literatures at VU from 1965-1972, and several grandchildren, all of whom reside in Germany.