Brigitta Johanna Siehling

Brigitta (Gitta) Johanna Siehling was born on Oct. 10, 1934 to Alois (Max) and Berna Keuper (née Duesterbeck) in Muenster, Germany. The oldest of 4 daughters, she lost her younger sister Helga to pneumonia in 1941. Max, a schoolteacher and devout Catholic, refused to remove his classroom crucifix, defying the commands of the Nazi regime. He was punished and sent to the Russian front, where he perished in 1943. From him, Brigitta inherited her love for books and for art.

Gitta met the love of her life, Bernard J. Siehling, while attending the local high school in Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. They wed in 1956 at St. Remigius Catholic Church, immigrating afterwards to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over the next 7 years, Brigitta gave birth to 5 children. Her final pregnancy gave the young couple a small shock when Gitta delivered twin girls rather than the “very active” boy that the physician had predicted. When her children were older, Brigitta enrolled in adult education classes, earning her GED in the 1980s.

Gitta was kind-hearted and rarely spoke ill of others, preferring to give them the benefit of the doubt. A devout Catholic, she attended St. Alphonsus church in Grand Rapids and later Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belmont. She was a life-long member of the Edelweiss German-American Club, volunteering behind the scenes at many Oktoberfest celebrations to share her German heritage with the wider community. She and Bernie hosted numerous musicians visiting from Germany through the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.

A diligent and generous hostess, Gitta treated visitors – family and friends alike – to her legendary home cooking, including her desserts and baked goods. Overnight guests will not soon forget the experience of waking up to a phenomenal breakfast spread, complete with European-style breads, jams, and cheeses and cold cuts, according to the German fashion. Her children and her grandchildren remember fondly her delicious Streuselkuchen, Lebkuchen, pound cake, plum cake, and German pancakes.

Brigitta was preceded in death by daughter-in-law Madeline Savoie Siehling in 2008 and son Mark Bernard Siehling in 2020. She is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband of 70 years, Bernard, daughters Barb (Don) Defoe, Deb (Bill) Corriveau, Kathleen Gilbert and fiancé John Freeland, Maureen (Jerry) Anderson, daughter-in-law Nancee Terpstra Siehling, 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are 2 sisters in Germany, Maria (Wingolf) Lehnemann and Ursula (Hugo) Weeg, along with nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Faith Hospice or D.A. Blodgett-St. John’s Home.