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Irmi Wittig

1928 - 2020

Irmi Wittig obituary, 1928-2020, Laguna Woods, CA

BORN

1928

DIED

2020

Irmi Wittig Obituary

Irmi Wittig, born on September 5, 1928, was gently taken from the arms of her family by her Lord and Savior on November 6, 2019. Irmi's family is taking this day, which would have been her 92nd birthday, to celebrate her and the life she led. Irmi was born in Bolkenhain, Germany, and was the youngest of four children. She learned service to others as a young child when she was sent to live with another family as a companion for their daughter, in exchange for food and clothing. WWII changed the direction of her life, as it did so many others. At the age of 16, Irmi, her mom and one sister took what they could carry in their arms and fled the approaching Russian army, spending the remainder of the war in Munich as refugees. Her father and oldest sister returned after the war, her brother was MIA and did not. She mourned his loss her entire life. Irmi married the love of her life, Alfred "Al" Wittig, on August 26, 1947, in Munich, Germany, just months after their first blind date. Al worked at a hospital and they were allowed to live in the only small room intact within the bombed rubble of a building on campus. The following year they were blessed with their first daughter, Monika. The family of three departed Germany via a freighter ship with two suitcases and less than $20 in their collective pockets on October 27, 1949, arriving in Galveston, Texas, 15 days later. They made their way to Inglewood, California, took up residence in a family friend's garage and proceeded to make good on the American dream. They learned the language, worked hard and saved every penny they could. Irmi was forever grateful for the opportunities immigrating to America offered her and Al and loved our nation with a passion. Two of her proudest personal achievements were earning her American citizenship in 1955 and her American GED at the age of 47. Al and Irmi built their first house in Baldwin Park in 1951, where they lived for 35 years. They expanded their family with two more daughters, Christine and Charlotte, and started their own business, "Al Wittig Builders." Irmi managed the day-to-day tasks of the business and maintained their home and garden while raising their daughters. She was active in Rotary-Ann's and PTA and was a superior seamstress, sewing all of the girl's clothes until they rebelled as teenagers, at which point she double-downed on her knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed camping and later trailering across the nation she loved, and never tired of her favorite locations at Virginia Lakes and Sequoia National Park. She loved attending live theater and singing along with songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, often dancing through the house if she thought no one was looking. Tragedy hit in 1971 with the sudden death of their beloved first daughter, Monika, at the age of 22; another loss she never fully recovered from. Irmi and Al relocated to their dream retirement house, also built by Al, at the top of Green Valley Lake in 1985, where they lived for five glorious years. Irmi loved hiking, cross country skiing, having friends over and feeding swarms of hummingbirds on their balcony. Winters became tough after Al suffered a stroke and they lived between Green Valley Lake and Leisure World, Laguna Woods, for the next 15 years before selling their beloved mountain home. Irmi spent twenty years as the devoted caregiver for Al. She was a fierce and determined health care advocate for him; taking him, many times kicking and screaming, to a multitude of therapies and programs over the years to maintain his physical and cognitive abilities. A few years after Al passed, Irmi returned to the San Gabriel Valley to be closer to her family as she spent the last five years of her life gallantly battling Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Bodies Dementia. Irmi was a gentle warrior with a hidden spine of steel and a wicked sense of humor; an incredible survivor of adversity, although she considered her life to be average and, in fact, blessed. She grew up in poverty yet always appreciated what she had, rather than what she did not. Even after achieving economic success, Irmi lived a simple life of frugality; however, was known for her generosity to family and friends. She had a heart for people, offering the gift of hospitality and simple, sage advice to friends and family. No one remained a stranger for long; whether around the campsite or her famous kitchen table, old and young were attracted to her genuine pleasure in their presence and her simple wisdom. Irmi thrived in serving others and was completely devoted to her family, willing to sacrifice all for their greater good. As her family grew and expanded, she was passionate about keeping them connected. She is survived and sorely missed by her daughters and son-in-law, Chris and Bob Dawald and Charlotte Wittig, four grandchildren, Karie Rose (Mark), Jeffrey Dawald, Erin Gang (Ryan) and Ciera Myers (Brad), and six great-grandchildren, Jack, Jessica and Jason Rose, Sydney and Asher Gang and Ace Myers. Mom, grandma and Oma: We hope they're playing Rodgers and Hammerstein up there for your birthday, and that you're dancing on your cloud. Miss you so much and love you! Your devoted family.

Published by Orange County Register on Sep. 5, 2020.
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I only knew her a short time and could tell she was all those things you described. Such a shining example of the American Dream and so devoted to her family. Ruhe in frieden, Irmi.

Kari Gang

Family

September 5, 2020

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