Walther Hahn

Born in Berlin, Germany, Walther attended Humboldt Gymnasium (High School) where he graduated in 1941. After serving honorably in the German Armed Forces during World War II, he returned to Berlin where he enrolled in the Friederich-Wilhelm University and then later in the Pädagogische Hochschule (PH) (Teachers’ College). He completed his degree at the PH in 1949, and took a position in the Berlin public school system, while also continuing his studies at the Free University of Berlin. He married Caecilia van den Boom in 1951, and the family emigrated to the United States in 1953, initially to New Mexico. Walther continued his studies in the United States, earning his Master’s Degree from the Rice Institute in Houston, Texas in 1954, and a Ph.D. in German Literature in 1956 from the University of Texas at Austin. He took his first faculty position in the Department of German at Perdue University (1956-61), later moving to the University of Oregon where he finished his career in the Department of German and Russian. He retired in 1990. He and Caecilia spent their retirement years enjoying diverse and interesting trips to all parts of the world; they set foot on every continent, including Antarctica.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Caecilia, of Athens; his two sons, Michael Hahn (Carol) of Athens and Chris Hahn of West Linn, Oregon; his daughter, Esther Reiquam (Peter) of Seattle, Washington; and 5 grandchildren, Alexander, Ian and Gavin Hahn and Jackson and Shepard Reiquam.

He was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Alaina Hahn.

A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 11 AM at the UGA Catholic Center on Lumpkin Street in Athens. Interment will follow at a later date at Rest-Haven Memorial Park in Eugene, Oregon.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, Inc. (P.O. Box 24608, Eugene Oregon 97402).

Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.