Martha Lucia Reichel

REICHEL, Martha Lucia -- Age 89, passed away on Wednesday, November 19, 2003 at 7:24 p.m. at Kaiser Hospital. She was born in Leisnitz, Germany, on January 15, 1914. She is survived by her loving daughter, Beate Anna (Hasi) Hoffman of New York and her loving son, Augustin George (Gustl) of San Jose, grandchildren Roxanne Reichel of San Jose; Leslie Grace, Kim Evenson, Leif Evenson and Nicole Hoffman of New York, great-granddaughters Angela and Kristin Grace of New York. Also surviving her are numerous cousins and grand-cousins in Germany. She was preceded in death by her husband August Kuehn, sisters Lucia, Hedl and Hedwig, brother Jorg and grandson Brandon. Martha lived a full life in Germany and in the U.S. She went to school in Berlin (The Pansionat) hoping to live a life as an actress. Shortly after graduation, she joined an acting group and performed with the group around Europe from the mid 1930's until 1943. Her stage name was Marta Hagen. In 1940, she married the leader of the group, August Kuehn (stage name, Rolf Walders), an actor, comedian, songwriter and composer. Rolf and Marta's comedy was not appreciated by the Hitler regime and they were put on Hitler's "hit list", so they went underground. They continued performing for small clubs mostly in Bavaria and continued evading the Gestapo, sometimes by only a few minutes. After the war, they continued to live in Bad Reichenhall and performed in the local theaters. After her husband passed away, she moved with her son and daughter to America. She lived in Minnesota for five years, where Beate then married. Soon after, she moved with her son to San Jose, where she worked as a nurse, first at O'Connor Hospital, then for 25 years at County Hospital, now known as Valley Medical Center. She will be missed by all, especially her good friends Mary Ann Neibaur, Barbara, Marian S, Irene, Shirley, Windy, Dorothy and Celia and many other friends and good neighbors. Martha is now resting and is completely at peace with the Lord. Services will be held Sunday, November 23, 2003 at 12:00 noon at OAK HILL FUNERAL HOME in South San Jose. If so desired, rather than flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to the American Heart Association in San Jose.