Irmgard Hanna Matzen
Memorial services for Irmgard Matzen, 98, of Wickliffe, will be at 2 PM on Sunday, February 10th, at Advent Lutheran Church, 7985 Munson Road, Mentor, OH 44060. Irmgard passed away Monday, January 28, 2019 after suffering a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.
She was born Irmgard Hanna Maslowski, December 9, 1920 in Berlin. Her father died from Tuberculosis when she was one year old. Her mother remarried and after a few years had a son named Heinz. Irmgard was very close with her brother. In her teenage years she apprenticed in retail and shop keeping. She lived through World War II with some years spent in Austria. Irmgard would go on to study physical education and became a teacher. Her only brother died in Russia during the war. Irmgard fled Berlin at the wars end and became a refugee in Hamburg.
While living in Hamburg, she met her soul mate, Julius Christian Matzen, who hailed from the island of Föhr in the North Sea. Irmgard loved her husband’s Insel Föhr and would visit the family farm many times over the years. She had a daughter, Elke, and son, Juergen, before immigrating to New York City.
After a few years, they would eventually settle in Stamford, Connecticut where they would have three more sons; Oluf, Robert, and Rolf. The years in Connecticut were wonderful with many friendships and memories made during their time there.
In the early 1970’s, the family would make one last move to Wickliffe, Ohio. She loved her new life there along with the home, friends and neighbors. She kept in touch with family and old friends by countless lengthy letters.
With many grand and great-grandchildren she became affectionately known as “Omi”.
Irmgard was an avid homemaker who enjoyed many domestic activities including cooking and baking her favorite German dishes for the family. Her and Julius enjoyed puzzling, tending their garden, and playing cards with family and friends. Irmgard was an avid swimmer and loved going to the beach. She regularly swam at the YMCA.
In Julius’s early retirement years she traveled many times to visit family and friends. During this time, Irmgard decided to write her life story, which all-family members received a copy of. As the years went by, her mind started slipping, which brought a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, making that life story all the more precious. Throughout the course of this terrible disease Irmgard kept a happy and pleasant demeanor. Irmgard and Julius were together to share their 60th wedding anniversary. She lived her remaining years with her son Oluf and his wife Joyce, who was her primary caregiver. Their dog Buster was a constant companion for her.
Survivors are daughter, Elke (Jose); sons, Juergen (Dolores), Oluf (Joyce), Robert, and Rolf; grandchildren, Spring, Simone (Javier), Dorian (Christine), Jules, Steve, Christina, Justin, Chelsea, and Dan (Elizabeth); great-grandchildren, Nikko, Kylina (Tobias), Taytum, Adriana, Gabriel, Joseph and Rowan; Sister-in-law, Gina; and nieces and nephew.
She was proceeded in death by her husband Julius Matzen; parents Berta and Paul Maslowski; and brother Heinz Bleinart.