Dr. Marlene (Langosch) Schleiffer

Dr. Marlene (Langosch) Schleiffer, age 87, of Huntington, IN, passed away on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Heritage Pointe of Huntington.           

Dr. Schleiffer was born on February 27, 1938, in Chicago, IL, to Leslie and Helen (Popenfus) Langosch.

Marlene was a 1955 graduate of Steinmetz High School in Chicago, IL, and a 1959 graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College with a Master of Arts and later received her PhD from Indiana University. Dr. Schleiffer taught at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha and Fort Wayne Bible College before beginning a long tenure with Huntington University in 1973 until her retirement in 2005.  Dr. Schleiffer taught music education and became Professor Emeritus at Huntington University. She was an active member of Christ the King Episcopal Church in Huntington.

As a professor at Huntington University, she served as department chair from 1973 to 1994, establishing educational degree requirements, heavily recruiting students and increasing community participation in college music activities.  Even after retirement, and through her career she continued to compose various instrumental and vocal pieces and performed widely as an oboist. As a native of Chicago, she studied oboe under the principal oboist of the Chicago Symphony when she was younger.  Dr. Schleiffer went on to be a co-founder of the Northern Indiana Opera Association. For several years Dr. Schleiffer, in conjunction with the university, held band clinics that benefited the surrounding communities.  She founded Collegium Musicum, a renaissance musical group, that performed at various events.

Marlene is survived by three sons, Hans (Eva) Schleiffer, of Sweden, Luis Schleiffer, Angel Schleiffer, both of Huntington, IN; granddaughter, Sandra Hellstrom; great-granddaughters, Elise and Lilly Hellstrom.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by one sister, Dolores Borders.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. all at Christ the King Episcopal Church, 1224 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN 46750, with Fr. Ted Neidlinger officiating.  A beautiful prelude of music will be played prior to the service of various pieces Marlene composed and some of her favorite hymns.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Christ the King Episcopal Church or to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in care of McElhaney Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington IN 46750.

McElhaney Funeral Home, 715 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, IN is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences to:   www.mcelhaneyhartfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Marlene (Langosch) Schleiffer, please visit our floral store.