Birgit Rennenkampff

Rennenkampff, Birgit TOWN OF DUNN - Birgit Rennenkampff passed away on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007. Birgit was born in rural Estonia on July 24, 1917. She was the oldest of seven children born to the Welding family. The Weldings belonged to the German minority in Estonia. In 1935, Birgit married Andreas Rennenkampff, son of landowners in Wesenberg. In 1937, their first child, Ingetraud, was born, followed by her brother, Jurgen, in 1938. In 1939, as a consequence of the Hitler-Stalin Pact, Estonia became part of the Soviet Union and most of the German population was moved to Western Poland, which became part of Nazi Germany. The family settled in a small Silesian town called Niesky, where Andreas found work as a mathematics teacher. In January 1945, Silesia was conquered by Russian troops, and most of the population fled. Birgits family, five children and several other relatives, spent three days on a freight train that ultimately took them to Helmbrechts, a small town in Bavaria, where they stayed for several months. These months, just before and just after the end of the war, were perhaps the hardest period for the surviving civilian population; there was not enough food, nor fuel, nor medical supplies and many people died of commonplace diseases. Birgit lost her husband and the three youngest children. She also lost her parents, who perished during the flight from the East, and two brothers. During the post-war years, many Americans decided to help destitute Europeans, and three Madison families began sending packages to Birgit. Sometimes these were the famous CARE packages. As a result, a correspondence started and soon the Madison families decided that they would sponsor Birgits immigration. And so it was in 1951 that Birgit, 14 year-old Ingetraud, and 13 year-old Jurgen came to Wisconsin. Birgit started working at Madison General Hospital as a housekeeper, and eventually became supervisor. She subsequently had other jobs at the Martin Luther Childrens Home and later at the Wisconsin State Hospital. In 1961, Birgit bought a building lot on Sand Hill Road, in the town of Dunn, and had a modest one bedroom home built, every detail of which she designed herself. Here she expressed her love of flowers and gardening, creating and constantly expanding a lush perennial garden, as well as a large vegetable plot. Birgit was always on the lookout for interesting wildflowers, which she transplanted into her wood lot. Birgit loved animals. For many years, she maintained a kennel of huskies. Over the years, uncounted dogs, cats, raccoons, goats, and even a horse could be found at Birgits. She was an accomplished craftsperson and particularly adept at knitting and woodcarving. Birgit was an active member in the Oregon Senior Center. For more than 20 years, she delivered Meals on Wheels, her last delivery being just two days before her peaceful death at age 89. Birgit leaves behind two children, Ingetraud and Jurgen; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Birgit was know to be an outspoken person and sometimes had strong opinions on current events. She came from a sturdy tradition of self-sufficiency and was a model of voluntary simplicity in her life. There will be a memorial service on Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at 3 p.m., at the OREGON SENIOR CENTER, 219 Park St., Oregon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 24359 Northwestern Hwy. Ste. 225, Southfield, MI 48075.