Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1950-2010 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
2.15 Cubic Feet
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Adalbert Emanuel Goertz was born on December 3rd, 1928 in Langenau, Kreis Rosenberg, West Prussia, the son of Paul Gerhard Goertz and Margarete (Goertz) Schukat.
He grew up in East Prussia, attending High School (Gymnasium) in Konigsberg. During World War II he was drafted in 1944 at age 15, witnessed the destruction of historic downtown Konigsberg in August 1944, escaped besieged Konigsberg from the Red Army by boat to West Germany during the spring of 1945.
He graduated from High School (Oberschule) at St Peter-Ording in 1950. He made his first trip to the US from 1951-1952 where he attended Upland College, CA. From 1952-1958 he studied at the University of Frankfurt completing a Master's Degree (Diploma) in Physics. In 1958 he married Barbel Kittler from Danzig, Germany in the Neuwied-Torney Mennonite Church. In 1960 he emigrated with wife and children (Claudia and Dirk) to Boulder, Colorado. In 1968 he got his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado.
The family moved to Waynesboro, PA in 1968 where he taught Physics and Mathematics at various colleges. Over the years he studied history and the families of Mennonites in Prussia. In 1997 he retired with his wife Barbel in Colorado Springs and joined the Beth-El Mennonite Church.
He enjoyed studying the native bees (Apoidea) of Colorado since 2000 and helped to expand the website "FindaGrave" with the addition of more than 4000 memorials.
He is survived by his wife, Barbel, his brother Jan (Thunderbay, Ontario), his sister Ida (Freiburg, Germany) his children (Claudia, Dirk, Elke, Frauke and Hans-Peter), 12 grandchildren (Ali, Hannah, Adeheid, Darwish, Timothy, Haniel, Danial, Tabitha, Kiera, Nadjeschda, Tiphanine, and Aymeric) 3 step grandchildren (Bill, Brandon, Sara) and 2 great-grandchildren (Ivory and Sylvan).
The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions to Beth-El Mennonite Church (4625 Ranch Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80918), noted for completion of a Columbarium, would be most welcome.
You may find it interesting to follow the link below to Adalbert's mother, where much more information about the family, including Adalbert, can be found.
NOTE: The memorials created by Adalbert Goertz are today being maintained by Tom Crago, the creator of this memorial. You can direct questions to Tom on any of those memorials.
Family links:
Parents:
Margarete Johanne Julie Schukat Goertz (1900 - 1996)
Children:
Gudrun Elfriede Goertz (1967 - 1968)*
*Calculated relationship
Note: As of June 2012, a Colombarium has not been completed at Beth-El
Burial:
Beth-El Mennonite Church
Colorado Springs
El Paso County
Colorado, USA
Created by: Tom Crago
Record added: May 10, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 69628876
Source: Internet Obituary
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
donation
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Articles/publications, research notes, physics notebooks, Goede family VHS tape, correspondence, photos, physics PhD and masters dissertations, audio cassette of lecture
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Not clear when the first material came in. The earliest date seems to be May 23, 2002, but some was likely acquired before that. Some of it came in along with books purchased from him by the MLA. Major addition from Bärbel Goertz, 22 Aug 2011.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
open for research use
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- German
- Polish
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
LDS microfilm 1344046, which isn’t present in the collection, is a compilation of Prussian Mennonite records that Goertz provided to the LDS. There may be other similar microfilms out there.