Lotte was born on January 17, 1923 in Stuttgard, Germany, a part of today's West Germany. Her mother, Helene Ruedel Keicher, and father, Albert Keicher, lived in a small town, Weinsberg, Germany, near Heidelberg. From her home she could view the infamous Weibertreu Castle from which history says the woman of the carried their men down the hill to safety when they were imprisoned in the castle in about 1400 A.D. After men, women and children were imprisoned in the castle, the women asked if they and the children could leave. They were told that they could go and take along anything they could carry. They chose to carry their husband! A painting of that very castle adorns a dining room wall in her home today.
Lotte's father, Albert, worked in a plant nursery and her mother, Helene, in a shoe factory. Helene rode her bicycle to and from work each day, a trip which took one and one-half hours each way, mourning and evening. Lotte's father died by drowning when she was only about one year old.
Her mother took Lotte to live with her grandparents, Katerina and Friedrich Ruedel in Weinsberg, Germany. Her grandmother was from Schwerin in Northern Germany. Grandfather Friedrich was a shoemaker. Lotte's cousin Gerhard and his two sisters lived next door. He later tore down the old home and built a condo where he now lives.
When lotte was six years old, her mother left her with her grandmother and came to America where she passed through Ellis Island. She had been sponsored by a relative of her mother. There she did housework for some rich Jewish people and went to night school to learn English.
Later Helene met the man who would become Lotte's stepfather, Henry Lerch. Henry had come to America from Switzerland. He was a butcher by trade.
Lotte lived with her grandmother, Katerina, and was obligated to join the Hitler Youth Organization. Her memories of the group include hiking, cooking out, marching, and singing which were all pleasant for her as a youngster.
When Lotte was fourteen, her mother came back to Germany to attend her daughter's graduation from the eighth grade and confirmation. During her return trip to Germany in 2004, a friend's daughter painted a picture of the church, Johanneskirche, which now is proudly displayed in the guest room in Lotte's home.
Lotte returned to America with her mother in March, 1937 on the ship Europa. The trip took five days from Bremenhaven in Northern Germany to New York City. She remembers her grandmother waving sheets from the open windows of their home near the railroad tracks as their train sped by on their trip to Bremen to catch the boat and wondered sadly if she would ever see her again.
When Lotte prepared to leave for America, her grandfather, Friedrich, gave her a sheaf of black, red, and white current vine cuttings, instructing her to care for them by wetting them down each day while she was on the boat. She cared for them faithfully each day. Unfortunately upon her arrival an officer asked what she carried and when she told what was in the package, he took them away and threw them as they were "not allowed". It was her first impression of America.
Helene and Lotte spent a few days with an aunt in Brooklyn and then took the train to Roseville, California. Here they joined Helene's husband, Henry Lerch, and lived in a rental duplex by his grocery store and butcher shop. They later built their own store. When they retired they moved to a four acre farm in Citrus Heights. Here they lived for many years among the almond and peach trees and were surrounded by roses, roses, and more roses, the prettiest of which were red bush roses.
Lotte met her furture husband at a dance in San Francisco. She had come to the dance with another man but was very attracted to Max in his Marine Corps uniform and danced with him all evening. She dated him while seeking and finding a job doing housework for her room and board and $40.00/month. Her employer had two small children - one of whom was a "little brat". Later she worked for a doctor, taking care of his children and doing a little housework.
Corporal Max Barker and Lotte were married in San Francisco where Max was stationed at the Embarcadero. He was later transfered to Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Here the young bride again found a job doing housework and became friends with another young military bride, Coila. Max brought her back to live with her mother before her first son, Duane, was born as he was to be shipped off to Guam for a two year tour of duty. Later he returned and their son, Norman, was born. Henry Lerch, Lotte's stepfather, bought a home for them in Citrus Heights for $6500. When Max and Lotte decided to move to Southern California, the house was sold for $8500. Henry gave them the $200.00 difference for a down payment on their home on Indianapolis Street in Mar Vista.
Max and Lotte were divorced. He later died in the Veteran's Hospital of Los Angeles and is buried in the Veteran's Cemetery near the hospital.
Lotte was now a single mother of two small boys facing a challenge to survive the day to day hurdles of daily living. She took in a couple to take care of the boys in lieu of rent while she went to work as a waitress. later Duane attended Page Military School, a boarding school, where he lived from Monday til Friday. Both mother and son cried as he was left at school each week. Norman and Duane also attended a Military School during the day during their younger school years.
Another boarder, Lou, opened a new chapter in the life of this single mom when he introduced her to a local barber, Elmer Leon Kittelson. Their first date was a double date with Lou for an evening of dinner and dancing. Sometime later Lotte invited Elmer to her home for dinner and a chance to meet her two small sons who were now in the younger grades. All went well until the time came for dessert when Norman declared that he wanted to "do" the Ready Whip himself. Imagine the surprise when his aim faltered and Elmer found his tie decorated with pressurized whipped cream! Fortunately Elmer had a sense of humor and Lotte was able to look past the embarrassment for after dating for sometime they were married. The ceremony was held on June 26, 1954 in "The Little White Chapel" in Las Vegas, Nevada with Coila and Les Eade as witnesses. The reception was held at the Sahara Hotel.
Lotte continued to work as a waitress at Friars Coffee Shop on Santa Monica Blvd. near St. John's Hospital, a job she held for twenty-five years. Elmer owned and operated Kittelson Barber Shop on Lincoln Blvd. in Venice, California. He was a barber for over fifty years including his years on Pico Blvd. in Venice, California.
When they decided to retire to northern California, they asked Lotte's mother and step-father to find a suitable lot for them near Folsom Lake. Lotte stipulated that it was to be right down close to the shoreline of the lake and Elmer requested a flat place to plant a garden. They bought the property site unseen and proceeded to the Roseville area to see their property. Elmer later planted a garden, Lotte took a long walk down the hill to see the lake!
After settling into their new home, Lotte once again went to work as a waitress at Grouchy's Log Cabin between Roseville and Rocklin where she worked the lunch shift during the week. Elmer returned to his vacation as a barber working weekends for several years.
They continued to live near the lake until Elmer died. He was buried in the Roseville Cemetery
Lotte Helene Kittelson born January 17, 1923 in Stuttgard, Germany to Helene Ruedel Keicher and Albert Keicher passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at the age of 87. Lotte came to Roseville from Germany at the age of fourteen. She attended Roseville Union High School and later moved to Santa Monica. She is survived by her sons, Duane Barker and wife Reyna of Lincoln, CA and Normal Barker and wife Vicki of Aloha, OR, eight grandchildren, a half-brother, Ron Lerch and his wife Anita of Sacramento and numerous nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Elmer Kittelson.
Arrangements under the direction of Lambert Funeral Home, Roseville, CA.
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