February 20th, 1935 - August 16, 2022
Klaus Wilhelm E Wechsberg, 87, of Winder Ga passed away peacefully at 12:44 am, Tuesday, August 16th, 2022, in the home of his loving daughter, granddaughter, and close family. In the days prior to his passing, he had been surrounded by his family who loved on him until the end. Papa as he was fondly known to by family and friends, was born in Berlin, Germany on February 20th, 1935, the son of Erich Wechsberg and Kathe Wechsberg. Escaping Hitler and the Nasi’s as a child with only his mother and father, they made their way across Europe, wherever they were accepted for a while, until they landed for a long period of time in China. During their travels, his father did his best to give a young boy as much insight as possible about the future he foresaw for his family. Teaching him to do the right thing by ALL countrymen that were so kind of to let then occupy as to not have to return to certain death. In 1947, Erich on his way home from working at the United Nations office he was stopped by a Chinese police officer who with the language barrier that existed shot Erich and killed him. With limited ability to get any real information, this is what was documented by Klaus. At 18, Klaus and his mother landed at Ellis Island. From there, they traveled as far west as possible and decided Denver would be home. Klaus understanding what American Freedom entailed got an American education through high school, completing it all within just a few years. From there, he joined the United States Air Force where he served and was honorably discharged and continued his education with the GI bill. His highest accomplishment was receiving his master’s degree. After graduating from college at the University of Denver he went and applied to work for the United States Office of Inspector General.
After meeting his future wife, Mary Lynn Liva Wechsberg in Denver Colorado in September of 1965, they married just 2 months later November 19th, 1965, going on to have 2 living children, John Patrick Wechsberg and Mary Catherine Wechsberg. Klaus fell in Love with his wife after just 2 months because he thought that she was such a beautiful woman who had no vanity about her. He was so impressed with her need to care for the elderly and the young and he thought that was an amazing thing that he was so immensely proud of.
After retiring from the Office of Inspector General after his 30+years with the office, he went on to travel extensively with his wife all over Europe and abroad. They loved to travel together as college kids do and would go from Hostel to Hostel and train station to train station. Staying abroad for several months at a time when they would go. Papa went back to his homeland and tried to get as much information about his family members as the government would allow him to obtain. It is documented that over 150 of his family members had succumbed to the gas chambers in Auschwitz.
Papa also traveled to Washington DC to the holocaust Museum where they were able to confirm his existence as a survivor and treated him like royalty. He shared stories with the amazing historians that were present, as they tried to pull as much information for him as possible for the documented family members that did not survive as well as a few that had.
It is said that history makes the man, but not for Klaus. History made him a better man. A man who understood what family means. That love for all has wealth, that not judging people for what they look like or what their beliefs are is the only way to walk in this life and not be haunted by the past. His family was slaughtered for just being born Jewish. And to the end of his life, he had many, many, many stories to tell but never was bitter for the history he lived. Humble to the end of his life he taught his kids, grandkids and adopted grandkids that he was not too proud to say I Love you.
Klaus was preceded in death by his adoring wife Mary Lynn Liva Wechsberg; Klaus is survived by his son, John Patrick (Marie) Wechsberg and their son Justin Wechsberg all from Bowie Maryland as well as John’s daughter Carnoshia Wechsberg Triplett and his granddaughter Alaysia Triplett of McDonough, Ga. As well as Klaus’s daughter Mary Catherine Wechsberg and her children, Kristin Evie Lynn Hardigree and Douglas Hood.
At this time, the family has decided that there will be no service but that at a future date the family will have a celebration of life once we are all together again.
The family requests that any flowers or notes be sent to his daughter Cathy at 418 Arrowhatchee Drive, Winder, Ga. 30680 at this time.
Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is entrusted with the arrangements.
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