Monday, January 16, 2012, an Uncommon man died.
Hans Bernhard Paul Thielemann was born in December 1923 to Bernhard Johann Wilhelm Thielemann, a manager for Shell Oil, Germany, and Martha Charlotte Thielemann, nee Rausch, a housewife. Hans is survived by his wife Jan, and his step-daughters Cynthia and Susan.
Hans grew up during the time when Hitler took over Germany. Hans was five when all guns were to be nationally registered. He was ten when Hitler was appointed chancellor and restricted freedom of press and assembly. That same year Hitler transferred legislative power to his Cabinet.
When Hans was eleven when Hitler was made president with the support of 90% of the electorate. Hans was thirteen when all youth groups were banned except Hitler Youth.
During the school year the government had teachers force the children to produce a family tree to "prove" their Aryan ancestry.
When Hans was fifteen, the government executed the Kristallnacht. Hans' family's good friends had their cleaning business destroyed by the government. Hans was 16 when Germany invaded Poland.
Hans served in the Luftwaffe in a communications unit that traveled with the troops, coordinating ground and air forces. At the end of the war Hans was in Fortress Courland, and put into a Russian prisoner of war camp. He was considered unfit for work in the mines, so the Red Cross arranged his release from camp. On the way back to Berlin Hans was arrested and then released by the KBG.
It took Hans 175 days to makes his way back to Berlin. His home in Landsberg had been given to Poland, so he was homeless. Hans made his way to an Uncle's home in the American zone. Hans had a university degree in optics, and found work in at Zeiss. Hans married, and immigrated to Grande Prairie, Canada when he was 26. He was sworn in as a Canadian citizen in 1958. Hans moved to Mission City, and then to Santa Barbara, California.
He was sworn in as a United States citizen in 1967. Hans was a registered Professional Engineer. He worked for Delco Electronics on the Moon Rover, and at Santa Barbara Research Center on night vision for the B52.
Hans married Jan in 1984. He retired and they moved to Whitmore, California in 1990, and to Redding in 2003.
Hans was reading the Redding paper and asked, "What is a 'Celebration of life?" I told him it was a funeral service. He said that we were going to "celebrate his life" while he was alive. Hans had a wonderful "celebration of life" on his 85th birthday with a champagne luncheon with his friends. He shared the story of his life, and loved being in center stage.
Hans said that he had his celebration, so there will not be a service.
Serenity
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
And
Let me live one day at a time;
Enjoy one moment at a time;
See today as yesterday's tomorrow;
And not worry about the tomorrow which would spoil this day.
And
Let me appreciate the wonderful people in my life,
For each moment with them is a gift.
Hans said that some relationships turn to vinegar, and some to fine wine, and that ours was the very finest wine.
If you wish to make a memorial contribution: please consider your own favorite charity; the Salvation Army, 4460 Westside Rd, Redding, CA 95001; the Northern California Veteran's Museum and Heritage Center, 3711 Meadow Drive, Redding, CA 96002; or Mercy Hospice, 1544 Market Street, Redding, 96001
In 1961, I immigrated from Canada to
Santa Barbara, California
