Just about eleven years ago, I wrote this post on March 26, 2011:

… it was in 1971 that the church decided to commit itself to a music program that would make LCH a center for sacred music and a venue for classical music concerts. It was then that the decision to purchase the Beckerath organ was made, amid some controversy over whether such an extravagant instrument (at a cost of $100,000) was how Christians should spend their money. Joseph Hansen, formerly director of music of St. Ignatius of Antioch in New York City, was hired as choirmaster and introduced the singing of Gregorian propers, Latin and German motets, sung in their original languages. 

I think it was in 1975 when I attended a ground-breaking service at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu called “Formulae Missae” that I first became acquainted with the choral work of Joseph A. “Joe” Hansen, who was the church’s choir director. In addition to conducting the church choir, he also directed a group called the Honolulu Ensemble Singers, which specialized in singing Renaissance madrigals.

Joe left Hawaii in 1976 for greener pastures in California; nevertheless he was never more than a phone call away, as my late husband, Carl, took on the job of Music Director. He and Joe would have two hour long phone calls about once a month, mostly to talk about repertoire. It was not until then that I learned in addition to conducting choirs, Joe was an accomplished organist.

The Lutheran Church of Honolulu’s Beckerath organ was only one of several organ projects that Joe got involved in. It seems like every church position he went to was in need of a better instrument!

In 2011 when Carl conducted Bach’s mammoth “Mass in B minor,” Joe flew to Hawaii for the performance. During intermission of the second performance, Carl presented Joe with a special “Mentor” award, which you can see in this YouTube video.

Just watching this just now brought a tear to my eye, because on Saturday night, Joe passed into life eternal, as his daughter, Christina, posted on Facebook:

Dearest family and friends, this is Joe’s daughter Christina. Dad passed very peacefully last night surrounded by his family. Thank you so much to everyone for your visits, calls, and cards over the last few weeks. They meant so much to him.

After Carl died in 2014, Joe and I reconnected in California as well as a couple more times at the Three Choirs Festivals in England. In fact, it was through Joe that I ever heard of the Three Choirs Festival in the first place! Here is a photo from the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester:

Rest in peace, dear Joe, your work on earth is done.

UPDATE 4/6/2022: Noreen Naughton sent me a copy of the memorial service program as well as a family picture. In the obituary written by Rick Cicinelli, the music program at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu was mentioned.

The service bulletin may be downloaded here.