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St. liborius organist celebrates 50 years at keyboard

Photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

St. Liborius Church organist, Harry Rutter, has been making beautiful church music for 50 years.
His years of service will be recognized at the 8:30 a.m. liturgy Nov. 29 at the St. Libory church.

Rutter began playing the organ and singing the parts of the Mass, which at that time were in Latin, during the summer of 1959. During that summer, Sister Norbert, ASC would be gone from the parish and young Harry, 12 at the time, would sing all the parts of the Requiem Mass which was celebrated often during the week.

He played and sang at his first wedding June 27, 1961, at the marriage of Jane Behr-mann and Charles Otten.
According to pastor Father Dennis Voss, “Jane said the reason Harry was preferred over the regular organist for weddings, Miss Pautler, because he often came to their house and played the piano and would hold a sing-along. Her mother, Elvira Behrmann liked what he did.

Rutter demonstrated his love for music when, as a very young boy, he would sing German songs at picnics that his mother, Irene, had taught him.

After graduating from Cathedral High School in Belleville, he went to Quincy College where he received a degree in music.

He has been for many years, and still is, the choir director for St. Liborius Church choir, which sings every Sunday.
The choir practices for many weeks for their special presentations at Christmas and during Holy Week and Easter.

For many years Rutter was the music director at Johannisburg Grade School and Okawville Junior High School. He is partially retired but still leads the music at Albers Grade School on a part time basis.