S. Jane Klimisch OSB, 89, died Monday, May 24, 2010 in the Sacred Heart Monastery Care Center.

    A wake service will be held Wednesday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m. and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 27 in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.  Burial will be in the monastery cemetery.

   Jane Julia Klimisch was born August 22, 1920, a few minutes before her twin, Clara, to Anton and Martha (Block) Klimisch on the family farm in the Sigel community near Yankton. She attended Klimisch School (District #48), Lesterville High School and then Mount Marty Academy where she graduated in 1938.

  She entered Sacred Heart Monastery on August 28, 1938, was invested as a novice the following June and received her baptismal name as her religious name.  S. Jane made her first monastic profession in June, 1940 and final profession in June, 1943. She earned a BA degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana; a Master’s in Music Education from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago; and a Ph.D. in musicology from Washington University in St. Louis.

  Music and education were major ministries for S. Jane.  She taught at Mount Marty College for over forty years, retiring with the rank of professor emeritus.  She also served the college as academic dean and college archivist and established the Sacred Music Resource Center to collect and preserve important publications of Gregorian Chant.

   S. Jane was a gifted musician who composed hundreds of pieces of liturgical music and served as monastery organist and choir director for 31 years.  She continued as an organist until a few weeks before her death. She authored The One Bride, a book on the nature of religious life, and Women Gathering, the history of the Federation of St. Gertrude.  She also co-authored Travelers on the Way of Peace I and II, for the 75th and 100th anniversary of the monastery.

   She was active in the Benedictine Musicians of America, the American Benedictine Academy, the American Musicological Society, the American Guild of Organists, and Delta Kappa Gamma.

   S. Jane was a gentle woman of wisdom who loved her prairie roots, who never lost her child-like awe of the beauties of creation, and who was friend, mentor and spiritual companion to many.

   S. Jane is survived by her Benedictine community; her twin sister, S. Jeanette Klimisch OSB; a sister-in-law, Delores Klimisch, Yankton; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and three brothers.

   Memorials may be directed to the Marian Auditorium Renovation Project at Mount Marty College, 1105 W. 8th Street, Yankton, SD 57078.

                                    Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her O Lord,

                                 and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her.

                                                 May She Rest in Peace.