Herta Kopp Ortlieb

ORTLIEB, Herta (nee Kopp)

On March 20th, 2014 Herta Ortlieb passed away at the age of 87 years. Born in Arcekuwek, Poland, Herta came to Canada in June, 1950 where she met and married Raymond Ortlieb October 30th, 1952.

Herta is survived by her three children; Harry (Monica) Ortlieb, Darwin (Ellen) Ortlieb and Rosalie (Ronald) Foshaug, six grandchildren: Ryley, Raymond, Rae, Andrea, Jonathan and Elexis, cousin Ridia Schuh, brother-in law Reinhold (Vinnie) Ortlieb, sister-in law Eileen Ortlieb and numerous, nephews, nieces and friends. Herta was predeceased by her husband Raymond Ortlieb, sister Alma Steinke, sister-in laws: Irma Fiebich, Ida Schenk, brother-in laws: Paul Steinke, Paul Ortlieb, and Herman Fiebich.

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 26th, 2014 at 12:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church (10014-81 Avenue) with Pastor Ingrid Dorschel officiating. Interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Arrangements under the direction of Hainstock's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Edmonton, AB.

Eulogy For Herta Ortlieb (nee Kopp)

Written by: Rosalie (Daughter) and Rae (Granddaughter) Foshaug

Read by: Pastor Tim

Herta Kopp was born November 17th, 1926 in Arcekuwek Poland. She was the second daughter born to Guido and Wanda Kopp. In 1928, her Father Guido Kopp left his wife and two daughters behind and started his journey to Canada promising to send for them as soon as he was established. When Herta was 5 years old, her mother sent her to live with her sister Olga Abram and husband Michael as they had no children of their own and times were very hard. A few years later Tante Olga had a daughter Ridia, but Herta decided to stay with the family as her Mom and sister Alma lived not far and visited often. Herta took over the care of Ridia to the point that when Herta went to school she would take Ridia with her and put her under her desk telling the teacher that she wanted to come to school but Ridia was her responsibility so she had to bring her along. Herta was a top student in all subjects – especially music.

When the second World War broke out, life changed. Michael Abram was now a soldier off to war, leaving all the women behind to fend for themselves. On January 16, 1945 Wanda, Olga, Alma, Herta, and Ridia packed up their belongings into two wagons. They had three horses, one of which was Herta’s ‘pet’ only because she was the one that ever rode or handled it. She hitched her riding horse up to the wagon and walked beside it to calm it down, encouraging it to pull as the bombing was only 3 kilometres behind them at most times. After seven weeks of living in the bitter cold, eating frozen potatoes and meat they arrived at Ulitz, Germany on March 7th, 1945. With the Russian soldiers making a very strong presence, Herta and Alma would hide at night, sleeping in barns or fields, keeping themselves away from the soldiers.

In 1947, Michael Abram located Olga and Ridia through the Red Cross and relocated them to West Germany. Wanda, Herta and Alma were left behind and took on all types of odd jobs to survive. In 1949 Michael Abram received permission from the government to re-enter East Germany and pick up their family belongs. Michael and Ridia went to the home where Herta lived; packed up all the belongings they could and returned to West Germany. Wanda, Alma and Herta followed along until they were close to the border at which time Michael and Ridia crossed without them until darkness fell, at which time the three ladies, while under gunfire, crawled under the fence. They had now arrived in Kreis Oldenburg, West Germany and were reunited with family.

As the war ended, Guido Kopp located his family through the Red Cross and on May 16th, 1950 Wanda, Alma and Herta boarded a ship and after many days of sea sickness they arrived in Montreal on June 12th, 1950. They then boarded the train and headed west to where her Father was waiting for them Millet, Alberta.

October 29th, 1950 Herta moved into Edmonton and took a job at St. Joseph’s hospital where she worked for a year. From there, she then went to work for Gainers as the money was better. During her time in the city, she started going to Trinity Lutheran Church and joined the Youth Group where she met Raymond Ortlieb. She then moved in with his sister, Irma Fiebich until they were married on October 30th, 1952.

June 9th, 1954 their first son Harry was born and then in November of that year they moved into their first house on 72nd ave. February 13th, 1957 brought the arrival of their second son Darwin and then on July 2, 1958 their daughter Rosalie was born and their family was complete. In the fall of 1975, they built and moved in the house that Herta lived in until November, 2013 at which time she was moved to the Devonshire Care Center.

Oma was a very unique person. No task was too small or hard for her to tackle. She would climb to the top of the ladder to reach that last apple and never showed any fear. Never tell her not or don’t do something. That would make her even more determined to do it. She was always a person that would say what she meant and did what she wanted.

For Oma’s 80th birthday, we threw her a big party to celebrate with her family and friends at the Jaguar Ridge Golf Course where of course we had her favorite – Black Tower wine. That was the only time we ever heard Oma talk about her life in the past – she always lived in the present – with us.

Going to Oma’s house always meant there would be cookies and Kuchen and she was usually good for a liver-sausage on rye bread sandwich. You usually left her house too full to move, so if you ever left there hungry that was on you. She always loved to be outside – whether it was working on her amazing flower garden or all her vegetables or as a kid I remember going over to Oma’s with my brother and spending time throwing a ball for her dog Lobo. She loved to bike and would go from her house down to the Muttart Conservatory and think nothing of it. She was the strongest women I ever knew – and I mean that quite literally because how many 80 years old do you know could rip a hand railing right off the wall.

In the past few years, Saturday’s have always meant taking lunch over to Oma’s. We would always call and ask what she wanted this week and it was always be “oh you pick you pick” which meant either pizza, Chinese food, KFC, or a cheeseburger and fries. We just had to make sure that we always brought root beer and ice cream along as well. When we walked in the door she was always so happy to see us and have us in her home. She would always ask if there was a boy I was seeing – well once I had to tell her that “no Oma – he isn’t around anymore” and she piped right up to say “you didn’t need that boy”. For the past few years it turned into “when are you getting married – when is the wedding – can I come – he can come to lunch too”. Yes she wanted to see all of her grandchildren get married, but what was more important was that we were healthy and happy.

Oma always had her phone on her ready for anyone who called. Once when Mom and Dad took her to Southgate to go shopping she pulled it out of her pocket – except it was cordless phone, not a cell phone, so the reception wasn’t the best.

If you ever couldn’t find Oma, calling over to Tante Ridia’s house would usually get you Ralph – saying that yes his mother was missing as well – meaning the two of them were out together. Best friends, partners in crime, and more than just cousins, Oma always knew that she would have Tante Ridia by her side ready for another adventure.

We will never look at orange brandy, Arrowroot cookies, a Kleenex box, or bright blue crocs without thinking of Oma.

May she once again have a spring in her step, a singing voice heard throughout the church, and know that she instilled the love of family within us all.