Christa Katzenmeier

Christa Dorthea Katzenmeier, known to her family as Mutti, Oma, Uroma, and Ur-Uroma (Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Great-Great Grandmother), passed away peacefully on January 8, 2023 at the age of 91. She was born August 9, 1931 in Jena, Germany to Robert and Lisbeth (Geisenhainer) Schroeter. At age 18 she escaped from East Germany, eventually settling in Rheinheim, Germany. In 1956 Christa and her family arrived in America and lived in Illinois for many years before moving to Colorado in 1992.

Christa was known for her creativity, cooking, baking, needlework, and her passion for gardening. Her yard was filled with beautiful flowers accented by trees and bushes that attracted numerous birds and wildlife. Whether at home or traveling, Christa loved to walk in nature.

The other passion in Christa’s life was her family. She married Heinrich Katzenmeier on November 18,1950 in Rheinheim, Germany and they were married 68 years at the time of his death. Together they had 3 children, 8 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. The family will miss her many handcrafted gifts, home baked treats, and traditional German meals that she generously shared along with her years of knowledge and loving care.

Christa is survived by her children, Karin (Brent) Ginther, Gabriele (Paul) Wallin, Michael (Wendy) Katzenmeier, her grandchildren, Katrina (Jeremy) Lauer, Dr. Stefan (Michelle) Ginther, Kristina (Rich) Paulsen, Christopher (Shannon) Marsden, Nicholas Marsden, Nathan (Dr. Niki) Katzenmeier, Dr. Erika (Luke) Johnson, her great-grandchildren, her great-great-grandson, her sister, Inge (the late Fritz) Baaske, her sister-in-law, Almut (Siegfried) Reuter, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins in America and Germany.

Christa was preceded in death by her husband, Heinrich (Heinz) Katzenmeier, her parents, Robert and Lisbeth Schroeter, her brother, Horst (Gertrud) Schroeter, her infant granddaughter, Heidi Katzenmeier, and her nephew, Ed (Kandi) Baaske

A private memorial gathering is pending. There was cremation and interment of the ashes will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Libertyville, Illinois.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Arbor Day Foundation for the planting of trees in Christa’s memory at https://shop.arborday.org/commemorative-trees-in-memory