BIOGRAPHY

Stockhorst was born in Isselburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on 20 December 1906. Her parents, Ludwig Henke and Anna Meyer, raised her alongside seven siblings. She frequently made music with neighbors and friends, including Heinrich Stockhorst from Isselburg. Heinrich, who was particularly dedicated to church music, chose it as his profession. Their neighborly friendship led to their marriage in Isselburg in 1938. As the youngest cathedral organist, Heinrich was appointed to the Erfurt Cathedral. He soon advanced to become the head of the Department of Catholic Church Music at the Weimar University of Music. The couple went on to have three children.

Stockhorst was an active member of the choir. Her husband was pressured to join the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) in the former East Germany, but he could not support it due to his religious and political beliefs. As a result, he came under political pressure and was forced to leave Erfurt. In 1950, the family relocated to Münster, where he became the cathedral organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral. She quickly formed a circle of friends in the city who shared her interests. Even in her centenarian years, she maintained contact with her husband’s former students.

As a centenarian, she lived independently until the end of her life, with her two daughters taking turns to look after her. She enjoyed dressing fashionably, even in her later years. Knitting was one of her daily leisure activities, and she made up to twelve scarves a year for charity. In the evenings, she liked to relax with a glass of red wine.

Stockhorst passed away in the district of Münster-Mitte, in the city of Münster, on 20 March 2017, at the age of 110 years, 90 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Georg Fürholzer, and validated by LongeviQuest on 24 July 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Isselburg: Änne Stockhorst wird 100 Jahre” – RP Online, 19 December 2006

* “Bestens gelaunt mit 110 Jahren” – Westfälische Nachrichten, 20 December 2016

* “Traueranzeigen von Aenne Stockhorst” – trauer.ms, 20 March 2017

* “Älteste Münsteranerin mit 110 gestorben” – Westfälische Nachrichten, 22 March 2017

GALLERY