Obituary of Irmgard Maria Witt Jaeger

Irmgard Jaeger passed away at Dominican Hospital on May 15, 2014. Her daughter was at her side as she succumbed to pneumonia at age 94. Loving thoughts of her family were with her in her last moments of life. She was born in Esingen, Germany and spent most of her childhood in Uetersen, Schleswig-Holstein. She was one of nine children. She immigrated to the United States in 1936 to live with her oldest sister and family in San Francisco. She celebrated her 17th birthday aboard ship as it made its way through the Panama Canal. Although her immediate family lived in Germany, she followed in the footsteps of her maternal grandparents. The Fuhlendorfs and their younger children immigrated to Nebraska in 1913 and then moved to Watsonville and Whiskey Hill (Freedom) to continue farming. As the children became adults, they settled in San Jose, Modesto and the greater San Francisco bay area. Irmgard married Erwin Jaeger in 1944. Their daughter Heidi was born in 1947. They owned a tailoring business in San Francisco until moving to Walnut Creek in 1955. They continued to do alterations for major department stores as well as smaller men's clothing stores in Contra Costa County until retiring in 1985. She moved to Santa Cruz in 1990 after Erwin's passing to be closer to her family. She brought her sewing machines with her and loved making her grand daughter's ice skating costumes. She loved the cooler climate and having dinners on the Santa Cruz Wharf. She remained in close contact with family both here and in Germany. Irmgard is survived by her daughter Heidi Jaeger-Smith, son-in-law, Robert Smith, grand daughter, Karen MacMillan and husband John MacMillan. She is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews throughout California and Oregon as well as in northern Germany. At her request, there were no services. Her family will gather to celebrate her life in September. She has been laid to rest next to her husband at the Mission Branch of the Santa Cruz Memorial Park. She continues to live in our hearts and memories.