Hermine Stainer

Hermine Meixner – born October 14, 1930 - was married on March 17,1957, to Ludwig Stainer in Austria. Shortly after, she and Ludwig moved to Chicago from Vienna. Ludwig was a structural engineer and soon became a prominent structural engineer in Chicago.Though less known, Hermine was formally trained as a seamstress in Austria and with her high-level skills quickly became indispensable to premium retailers in Chicago such as I. Magnin and Barneys New York, in the Chicago Magnificent-Mile area. She was so highly regarded by Barneys that they did not want to lose her, but she finally retired when she was 72 years old.

Ludwig and Hermine lived in the north side of Chicago, starting in Wrigleyville and later buying their dream home further north where they lived for more than fifty years. They had always thought they would retire to Austria, where their families still live, and whom they visited often. When the time finally came, they realized that Chicago had truly become their home, and they decided to stay. After Ludwig died in 1995, Hermine became a U.S.Citizen and remained in the same home until her passing.

Along the way, Bev and Dave Urschel, who both worked with Ludwig, became and remained close friends for over 50 years. Ludwig and Hermine never had children. Bev and Dave became Ludwig and Hermine’s family, and their sons, Marc and Wes, were in-turn their grandkids. Marc’s children, River and Edelweiss, became their great grandchildren. Hermine passed quietly on June 28, 2025, in her sleep at home.