Ilse G Henson

The Henson family mourns the passing of Ilse Gertrud Henson at The Fairfax Military Officers' Retirement Community, in VA on 12 February 2016. Ilse was a loving wife, beloved mom, doting Oma. She was 89 years old at the time of her passing and was born on 10 April 1926 in Waldenburg, Schlesien (Germany) to Max E. Bernhardt and Klara Heinze Bernhardt. Ilse was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Harold T. Henson, and is survived by her four children. Her children and grandchildren are as follows: Margitta I. Rehler and husband David Rehler; Tanja R. Henson-Quinton, husband Newell Quinton, granddaughter Vanessa Leyba; Peter H. Henson, wife Kelly Henson, granddaughter Lauren Henson, and grandson Matthew Henson; and Leslie H. Gottesman and husband Dave Gottesman.

Ilse lived in Germany during World War II. Unable to leave until January 1945, she became separated from her family when they were evacuated to Austria. They found each other by writing to Ilse’s girlfriend who lived in Saxony. They were reunited but were considered displaced persons and could only take what they could carry. Ilse got a job working for an American Military Company and that is where she met Harold. They were married in Erlangen, Germany in 1947 and were promptly sent to the United States. She became a US citizen in 1950. As a military wife, she traveled the country and the world with her family, until her husband retired in 1970. She spent the remainder of her life living in Northern Virginia.

She was an avid bridge player, playing duplicate and contract bridge regularly. She played in weekly games locally and played in larger tournaments around the area. She had loyal partners with whom she played. She finished her bridge career playing with the daughter of one of her former partners.

She loved dogs, from those who were part of our family through the years to the visits at The Fairfax from Leslie’s therapy dogs. She also was a lover of Nature and enjoyed tending to her flower gardens. The gardens grew smaller but she was never without flowers around her. She loved listening to Rod Stewart.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date, following interment in Arlington National Cemetery.

She will be greatly missed.