Anneliese M. Stoeger

Born October 31, 1937 to Martha Elsa Sikler and Willi Paul Modinger in Waiblingen Germany. Anneliese grew up in Germany during World War II and her family aided and housed the Allies. Growing up during this time shaped her entire life.

Anneliese completed her business degree in Germany at the Bochafter Business School on March 18, 1954. She worked as a bookkeeper at H. Auwaerter and Company and then Metzler and Company in Germany. She then went on to work in London for one year while en route to the United States. Following her arrival in New York City she worked as a bookkeeper for Myers, Grimes and Weiner. After becoming a citizen on November 17, 1967 she earned her general education diploma in 1971 and took classes in floriculture at SUNY Cobleskill. Although heavily accented she took pride in her impeccable English grammar.

Anneliese was married for 24 years to Gerhard Gunther Stoeger. They relocated to Fergusonville, New York to raise their family. She ran the Fergusonville Nursery while raising her young daughters. On August 16, 1972 she purchased Reynold’s Greenhouse in Oneonta, New York, later renaming it Stoeger’s Florist and Greenhouse. She owned and operated Stoeger’s Florist for 34 years. As a business woman, she was an active member of the Oneonta community including the Oneonta Business Women’s Club. She had a spirit of generosity and cultivated a sense of community in the shop. She created a family atmosphere for customers and employees and raised children and grandchildren in her workroom. She donated to local organizations and hosted children’s groups and school tours; always making time for these special occasions. She was also a friend to many customers who became an important part of her life. She retired in 2002 and was sad to see the end of a 100 year era for the florist and greenhouse in the 6th ward Oneonta community.

Anneliese moved to Nader Towers in 2004 and lived there independently for 10 years. She enjoyed her retirement by spending time with her grandchildren, tending her garden box, knitting, reading, writing, playing scrabble, journaling, weather watching, drinking coffee and eating ice-cream. Anneliese remained connected with friends and family here and abroad by embracing the technology of today. For her immediate family Oma was always just a phone call away. Daily emails and daily phone calls were an essential part of her day. Anneliese also made many dear friends during her time at Nader Towers.

Anneliese had an adventurous spirit. She enjoyed road trips to visit relatives and friends and reminisced about fast cars and her motorbike sidecar excursions of her youth overseas. She loved country rides and gentle nature walks closer to home. She was an avid reader and passed her love of books onto her children and grandchildren. Anneliese chronicled her life through her personal journal writing and was a prolific card and letter writer.

Anneliese will always be remembered for her wonderful cooking, baking and the joy and pleasure she found in feeding her family, friends, and employees. She was a strong independent fiery redhead; tough, loyal, dedicated, caring, generous, hardworking, creative, witty, brave, courageous, intelligent, industrious … with an impressive work ethic that she lived by and passed on to her children.

Anneliese was predeceased by brothers Erich Karl Jauch and Siegfried Modinger, cousin Ella Paulson and Roni Modinger and Aileen Modinger. She was survived by daughters Karen Ellen Stoeger, Kim Edith (Russell) Griswold, Kathy Erica (Timothy) Ashe and grandchildren Trevor John Ambrose, Wyatt Erich Ambrose, Hannah Lisa Ashe, Noah Nicholas Ashe, Maria Jannele Griswold and Isabel Traci Griswold. Anneliese is also survived by sister-in-law Edith Jauch, brothers Heinz H. Modinger, Fritz Wilhelm (Donna) Modinger, cousin in-law Harold Paulson, nephews Dennis, Chris (Kelly), Eric (Nikki) Modinger and their children, niece Stephanie (Paulson) Berardo and family, and many cousins and friends in Germany and special friends in the Oneonta area.

A beautiful and private celebration of life was held graveside at Fergusonville Cemetery on Sunday July 6th officiated by Rev. David Rockwell. An informal gathering of remembrance will also be held at Nader Towers and will be announced at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made in her memory to Huntington Memorial Library to support literacy, the Oneonta Business Women’s Club to empower women in business and Tobacco Free Kids of New York.

Services arranged by Bookhout Funeral Home and Fergusonville Cemetery.