Liselotte "Lottie" Ohlig

Liselotte “Lottie” Ohlig was born on September 1, 1929 in Erbach, Germany to parents Albert and Josephine Lebert. She had a brother Alberto and a sister Gusti. The family owned and ran a garage. Her father had one of the very first drivers licences in Germany. Growing up during the depression and a war was a difficult time that built character and shaped lives. Lottie met a boy from the neighboring town of Eltville and fell in love with Ernie.

After the war Ernie and Lottie traveled to Canada by ship with $35 between them. Lottie was offered a job on the day they arrived. Ernie found a job within 2 weeks as a newspaper photographer. They had a humble beginning for a marriage that would last 55 years.

Lottie worked various jobs until Bert was born in 1955 and Don was born in 1956. She enjoyed raising the kids and was always involved in all their activities. In 1958 Ernie and Lottie founded their first company, OHLIG Electronics that produced studio flash equipment for portrait photographers. OHLIG Electronics was eventually purchased by American Speedlight, then Berkey Photo. When Ernie left Berkey, they started a new company, Technolux, and developed a new self contained studio electronic flash.

In 1968 they sold Technolux to “Speedotron” in Chicago and the family moved to the Chicago suburbs, where Lottie worked for an orthodontist. In 1972 Ernie was given a chance to start a California company, Cardio-Call, which produced a heart monitor that could send a signal over the telephone. Ernie and Lottie found a fixer-upper home in Newport Beach and Lottie got a job working for a dentist.

A family business was started in the living room in 1977, OLEC (Ohlig Light & Electronic Controls) with the invention of the light integrator which guaranteed perfect printing plates. Lottie initially kept her dental office job to keep food on the table. OLEC set up distributors in Fifty-Three countries and Lottie and Ernie traveled the world to establish the business.

Lottie’s joy in life was being with family and she always made sure everyone was warm and feed,

Lottie is survived by two children; Bert and Don, six grandchildren; Adam Heather, Annie, Blake, Vanessa and Alyssa, and four great grandchildren: Brooks, Beckett, Lincoln and Briton

We will miss Lottie. She had a positive impact on so many people. We reserve a warm place in our hearts for her. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pacificviewcalifornia.com for the OHLIG family.