Hans G.W. Ersepke

Hans G. Ersepke
Hans Georg Wolfgang Ersepke, 88, long time resident of Toledo, Ohio and most recently of Rossford, Ohio, died peacefully Wednesday afternoon, March 4, 2009, at Perrysburg Care & Rehabilitation Center where he had been a resident for the past two years. Hans was born September 29, 1920 in Johnsdorf, Kreis Landeshut, Schlesien (Silesia) Germany to Alfred B. and Bertha M. (Köhler) Ersepke. On November 29, 1947 he married Anneliese Bollmann-Hoppe in Bremen, Germany. She preceded him in death on December 17, 1989. On April 13, 1991 he married Emma Nowak of Toledo, who survives him. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother Carl Heinz, 1916; infant daughter Christine Elfriede, 1953; grandson Gregory Drewes of Hamler, OH, 1990; sons-in-law Alan Pleasnick of Norwalk, OH and Larry Drewes of Deshler, OH in 2005; step-son Martin Nowak of Toledo, (Angie) 2008; and brother Thyssen E. of Bogalusa, LA in 2008. He is survived by his brother Alfred W. (Helen) Ersepke of Necedah, WI; sisters Ursula McLaughlin of Sheboygan Falls, WI and Charlotte E. Lux of Evansville, IN; daughters Alice Pleasnick of Norwalk, OH and Heide Drewes of Deshler, OH; son Hans J. Ersepke (Sue) of Toledo; step-daughters Francis Nowak of Phoenix, AZ; Kathy (Frank) Powalowski of Toledo; Barb Keller of Hartsville, SC; step-son Chris (Julie) Nowak of Waterville, OH and many nieces and nephews here in the States and in Germany. Grandchildren and step-grandchildren include Eric (Julie) Ersepke of Shaker Heights, OH; Laura Ersepke (Andy) of Toledo; Erika Reinoehl of Westerville, OH; Elizabeth Pleasnick of Williamsburg, VA; Larry, Anna & Amanda Drewes of Deshler, OH; Autumn Nowak; Christina Davis (Daryl); Dustin Nowak; Kimberly and Kevin Powalowski of Toledo; Jordan, Alec and Jessica Nowak of Waterville; Kyle Keller of Hartsville, S.C.; and 8 Great Grandchildren.

The grandchildren all fondly loved their "Opa", and his sometimes childlike qualities blended in well when with them. Opa always had a spot on his lap for songs and stories, played games and always had plenty of help with his puzzles, and generated tons of smiles and laughter to not only them, but any child in his midst. He was known to set up a movie projector on the backyard lawn, showing films such as the life of the honey bees to the 30+ children on our street.

Hans, along with his parents and four siblings, fled their homeland during oppressed times, immigrating to the U.S.A. in April of 1927 , settling in Chicago, IL where they opened a family bakery. Hans often shared his memories of crossing the Atlantic and growing up in a new country, going through the Great Depression and living in Chicago during Prohibition.

He joined the United States Army during World War II, and was with the 121st General Hospital at Camp Ellis, IL. He was eventually shipped to England and then to Bremen, Germany where he met his first wife of 42 years, Anneliese, who was already a war widow with a young son. After his service in the Army, he returned to the U.S.A. with Anneliese and her son Hans Joachim, whom he adopted, and also daughter Alice. Settling in Necedah, WI, he worked for the Wisconsin Power & Light Co. during the building of the Petenwell Dam across the Wisconsin River, and for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad for many years. He also worked in Tomah, WI for Sage Plumbing & Heating. In 1956 an opportunity to work in Toledo, Ohio for The National Exchange Club Headquarters arose and Hans worked there for 12 years. In 1968 he started working for Owens-Illinois at their Technical Center as a technician, regularly traveling around the world building and maintaining O-I bottling machines, and retiring from O-I in 1985.

A firm believer in the saying "He Who Rests…Rusts", Hans occupied himself with many hobbies including puzzles, needlepoint, building projects and baking Danish Pastries for Easter and candy houses at Christmas. He was the only male participant in quilting sessions at Memorial Lutheran Church of Toledo, where he was a member for 53 years. Music was a huge part of his life. He was the oldest living member of the Toledo Teutonia Männerchor, a Toledo German Men's Choir, where for also 53 years he enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow German-Americans and loved to sing the songs from his homeland. Hans was a President of the Männerchor at the time of the founding of the German-American Festival and was one of the incorporators of the G.A.F. Society. He served as the Festival entertainment chairman in the early years.

When he was younger, he was a tireless supporter of the Männerchor. It was through his efforts that 120 singers came from Rheine, Neuenkirchen & Emsdetten in 1987. This visit led to the first trip to Germany in 1989 that the Toledo Männerchor ever made. He was also a member of American Turners Toledo and the GBU.

Hans was blessed with the ability to remember anything he ever read, seen, heard or wrote. He had quite a mental library of memorable poems, jokes, stories and songs which his family, friends and especially his grandchildren loved to hear.

Later in life, Hans enjoyed traveling and taking cruises with his wife Emma. All who knew him will miss his humor and his unending love and devotion to family.

The family will receive guests on Monday from 2 – 8:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd. (419-473-0300). The Toledo Teutonia Männerchor will be singing at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will begin Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Officiating will be Pastor Craig Scholl. Interment will follow in Ottawa Hills Memorial Park.


Those wishing to make monetary donations are asked to consider Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

The family would like to give a special thank you to all at Perrysburg Care & Rehabilitation Center and to Hospice of Northwest Ohio for the great service and care they provided.