Submitted by: Dan Rich
Br. Beatus Schlenker CSC
June 6, 1918 - Feb. 2, 2005
Br. Beatus (Emory) Schlenker, CSC, died Wednesday, February 2, 2005, at Holy Cross House, Notre Dame after a long illness. Br. Beatus was in his 86th year of life and 66th year of religious life in Holy Cross. Born Emory Schlenker on June 6, 1918, to Anthony and Flora Schlenker in Kenosha, WI, he attended St. George Grade School and then St. Catherine High School in Racine, WI.
In 1937, he entered the candidate program in Watertown, WI, before entering St. Joseph's Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, IN, February 1, 1938. One year and one day later, he made his first vows. Three years later, on August 16, 1942, he made his final vows in Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame. Br. Beatus was a man of few words, dry wit and endless dedication to prayer, work and his Holy Cross Community. Before his assignment to Holy Cross House in 1999, due to failing health, he had had only three other assignments as a vowed religious.
From 1940 to 1941, he worked in maintenance at Holy Cross College in New Orleans followed by a brief stay of a few months at St. Charles Boys Home as prefect. In August of that year, he was assigned to Notre Dame to work in the power plant. He did that and much more while residing in the firehouse for over 50 years.
Br. Beatus worked alongside Brothers Borromeo Malley, Valery Greenwell, Frank Gorch, James Edwin Gormley and many others in making Notre Dame work. Endless hours of work in the Notre Dame Power Plant and helping at Ave Maria Press were often followed by jumping on the Notre Dame fire truck to put out fires or assist in some other emergency. Through all these hours of work, Br. Beatus and the others maintained a regular life of prayer and devotion that set a high standard for all in religious life.
When he retired from the more rigorous work in the Power Plant, Br. Beatus did all he could to help his community members at Corby Hall, as well as assisting Brothers Clarence Breitenbach, Frank Gorch and Tom Tucker in keeping the community cemetery cut and trimmed. Br. Beatus served his religious community of Holy Cross very well. A humble and kind man, his work, prayer and example did more to build the Kingdom of God than he ever realized. He died 66 years to the day of his first vows as a religious of Holy Cross. He will be greatly missed. Br. Beatus is survived by a brother, Rev. Richard Schlenker of St. Francis, WI.; and a sister, Mrs. Marjorie Niccolai of Burlington, WI.; and seventeen nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Dr. Thomas Schlenker and Bro. Jerome Schlenker.
A Wake Service will be held for Brother Beatus in the Chapel of Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, Indiana, on Sunday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame, on Monday, February 7 at 3:30 p.m. Burial will follow in the Community Cemetery at Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home in South Bend, Indiana is in charge of arrangements.