Inge Thalheim
Inge Thalheim (nee Wolter), age 90, of Old Greenwich, Connecticut, passed away at her home of 57 years, in the presence of her family, after her loving heart stopped on December 31, 2020. Inge was born on September 8, 1930 to the late Rudolf and Erna Wolter in Berlin, Germany. Inge was predeceased by her husband Hans-George Thalheim in 2010. Inge is survived by her sister Karin Domian and niece Adriana Domian both of Brussels, Belgium and nephew Alesandro Domian, of Padua, Italy, her daughter Christine H. Wimmer (Kurt) of Upper Makefield, PA and their children, Alexander, and Anna-Christina, son Johann F.E. Thalheim, IV, (Sarah), of Old Greenwich, CT and their children, George (Joanna), Philip, Hans Christian (Taylor), and Ingrid, and son Peter A. Thalheim of Stamford, CT and his children Olivia, Sophie, and Audrey.
Inge was raised in Berlin, Germany and turned nine years old seven days after World War II started on September 1, 1939. Children did not have the concerns and worries of adults at that time, and made the best of it. Air raid sirens usually went off at 10 pm and the building’s residents would descend into the basement bomb shelter, complete with bunks and benches. Here she could bring her favorite doll, cards and games and play with her friends. For six weeks in the fall of 1940, Inge, her mother and sister stayed in a village near the Czech border where she attended a one-room schoolhouse before returning to Berlin. With increased bombing of Berlin in 1943 the government ordered all mothers with young children and the elderly to evacuate to areas of Germany where they would be relatively safe. They moved to Landsberg an der Warthe, now part of Poland. Inge enjoyed her time in the countryside. Spring of 1944, with Russians advancing on Germany, Inge’s father moved them to Neu Fahrland near Potsdam, on the outskirts of Berlin. She attended school in Potsdam but would have to return home if warning sirens signaled an impending bombing. In February, 1945, Inge fled with her mother and sister to
Opershausen bei Celle, which was further west and ultimately in the British Occupation Zone. Although three of Inge’s grandparents survived the war, they all died within a year of its end from hard postwar conditions. Inge received her “Abitur” from the Staetische High School Geestachts in 1951.
After working in an office near Lueneburg, Germany, Inge’s Aunt Gretel (nee Wolter) and Uncle Heinz Klock from California paid for her to attend classes in English in London in the fall of 1952. Her budget allowed her to also take Spanish classes at the Linguist Club in London. There she met her husband to be Hans G. Thalheim. He was working in London for his German employer to organize supply contracts for non-ferrous metals. They married in February, 1953. Inge purchased a sewing machine during their honeymoon and had it on the backseat of their VW Beetle car as they traveled about. Thereafter they set up house in Petersham, England. Their daughter, Christine, and son, Johann, were both born in England. In 1957 they moved to Germany as Hans took a position in Nuremberg. In 1960 their son, Peter, was born.
August, 1961 the Soviets began erecting “The Wall” around Berlin to physically separate East from West Germany. The Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in 1962. These events and the uncertainties of another war in Europe prompted Hans and Inge to emigrate to the United States. Their hope, to live a peaceful and secure life in America. The young family sailed on the MS Bremen and arrived in New York on May 13. 1963. Inge’s first act in the United States was to buy a new sewing machine at Macy’s, even before their luggage was unloaded. In July, 1963, the family had made their permanent home in Old Greenwich.
Happy and grateful to be in the United States they wanted to become Americans and assimilate themselves and their children. However, Inge was not able to lose her German accent, but had a very complete understanding of proper English grammar (and read and spoke French). Inge was a Cub Scout Den Mother for both sons, already marching in the Memorial Day Parade. Hans and Inge joined the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich, in 1964, where she was active for fifty-six years, volunteering and serving in numerous ways. She helped found the Kettle Quilters, where she stitched for over forty-two years. Quilts were raffled off and proceeds contributed to charity. In her retirement years, spent in part on Hilton Head Island, SC, she helped found another quilting group at the First Presbyterian Church.
Having grown up in difficult times, Inge was extremely resourceful, she sewed and mended. Two dresses could be taken apart and a new one sewn. An old winter coat could be fashioned into a new one. She took apart old wool sweaters and knit something new. Inge knit sweaters and hats for her family and sewed custom clothes for her grandchildren. Another pleasure and joy was her art, painting “naive paintings”, furniture and Dutchstyled tiles. Concerned about preservatives in bread before people were concerned about such things, she started baking healthy, preservative-free bread in her own kitchen. So passionate was she in her baking and sewing that she gave lessons through the Old GreenwichRiverside Community Center. While her preference was to make the lives of her family and community better through her many skills, she was happiest being “productive”. Introduced to sports by her father, who was an accomplished sailor, skier, and mountaineer, Inge never considered herself an athlete but enjoyed swimming in calm waters, sailing in calm waters and both cross country and downhill skiing. Many happy family vacations were spent skiing or sailing. Riding a bicycle to town, church , friends or her children’s houses was healthy, efficient and environmentally friendly. Inge learned to play golf for Hans in his retirement as he enjoyed playing golf with her the most. She also found herself, biking in Europe, and on cruise ships always packing one suitcase of clothes to giveaway to the less fortunate.
Hans and Inge had a strong bond and partnership with shared values from the lessons learned growing up in a time of war and loss. Their example of hard work, love of family, faith and gratitude for their blessings in life, which were not be taken for granted, will be treasured by not only their family, but those who knew them. What Inge did, she did for her partner in life, Hans, and for her children, grandchildren, friends and the community, Inge’s philosophy in life was to do for others.
At an early age, her youngest son called her a “good service Mami”. Inge was a doer, with a sense of humor and a positive attitude, who was happiest when being productive and helpful combined with a modest approach to life, contributed to her having a full, happy, and grateful life. It is her families hope that her spirit will live on in all of us: Be happy, help someone, and make the world a better place.
In lieu of flowers pay it forward and think of Inge and her joy in giving.
A memorial service celebrating Inge’s full life will be held at The First Congregational Church of Greenwich, after COVID restrictions are lifted.