Horst Erich Christoff Baumgarten

1930 - 2023

Horst Erich Christoff Baumgarten, loving husband and father of seven children, entered eternal life on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at the age of 93. His Loving wife of 68

years Edeltraud, and his daughter Lisa were by his side.

Horst was born in Breslau, Germany on January 24, 1930 to his parents, Regina Baumgarten and Paul Spaeth. Surviving the time period during and after World War 2, he apprenticed in

demolition to help with reconstruction, and also as a baker.  Emigrating to the United States in

late 1953, he was inducted into the United States Army on on January 19,1954 in Albany, New York.  He did his Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, and served in the 108th QuarterMaster

Company at Fort Devons, Massachusetts and final assignment at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. 

After serving his new country faithfully, he was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Private in May 1956, released from active military service and transferred to the Army Reserve to complete 8 years full service time under the Universal Military and Training Act of 1951.  His

decorations include The National Defense Service Medal [Korean War Era Veteran].  His

honorable military service brought his citizenship for his new country and brought credit upon himself and the United States Army.

He sent the ship funds for the ticket to his love Edeltraud in January 1955 and they were married on January 22, 1955 at St. Joseph's Church in Schenectady. [He told her when she was

12 that he would marry her one day.]  Moving to Schenectady he began his family and civilian

life working construction and eventually being trained and employed by General Electric as a

Vertical Lathe Machinist making Generator Components.  He retired after over 35 years of service at the age of 65.  He was longtime parishioner of St. Luke's Parish.

Some of Horst's greatest pleasures in life were his family, sailing, boating, fishing, hunting, and

camping, spending over 46 years at Dun Loggin campground on the Great Sacandaga Lake where he always had his German music blaring for all to hear, and anything that allowed him to

be in the great outdoors.  Horst always had a vegetable garden and loved planting his yard and camp with flowers.  He loved tinkering and could fix just about anything, always wanting to help

family, friends and strangers with anything they needed help with. Horst made friends wherever he went, people loved him and were drawn to him, he loved people. The Patriarch, life and

center of an enormous family who absolutely adored him.  He loved his family and his friends. 

He lived life to its fullest, never wasting a day. He loved life.

Horst was the proud and beloved Opa to a total of 24 grandchildren and 14 Great grandchildren

(one born the day after he left us).

Horst is predeceased by his first born child Michael Baumgarten, his parents Regina Arens [nee Baumgarten] and Paul Spaeth, and his siblings:  Paul Baumgarten, Klaus Simon, Peter Simon,

Helga Kuekelheim, Elizabeth Spaeth and her daughter Illona, and his grandchildren Joseph and Suzanne Pobee-Mensah. 

Horst is survived by his loving and devoted family, wife Edeltraud, his sister Waltraud Bierbaum; his seven children:  Martin (Kathy) Baumgarten, Dorothy (Anthony) Pobee-Mensah, Paul

Baumgarten (Sophie Frank), Thomas (Pamela) Baumgarten, John (Daiva) Baumgarten, Lisa Marie (Kevin) Pope and Linda (Joseph) Quant.  Also, Daughter-in-law Suzanne Jette and beloved cousins Dieter Paul (Eleanor-Ann) Olbrich and children, Bruno (the late-Ruth) Tolge

and children, several nieces, nephews, brother in law and two sister in laws.

Calling hours will be held at the Gleason Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Following the calling hours, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon at St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church, 1235 State Street, Schenectady, NY. Burial to follow

at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.