Adina Kretzschmann

Our wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Adina Ruth Kretzschmann was born in Auerbach, Zwickau, Germany on April 17, 1918, the daughter of Karl Hermann Blechschmidt and Klara Hulda Daemmler. She passed away peacefully in her beloved home after a long illness on February 15, 2014, nearing the age of 96. Her life was filled with sacrifice, hard work and service to others, yet she seldom complained. She was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a young age and her family moved to the small town of Meerane in East Germany. During World War II, she worked in a factory, where she met her soon-to-be husband, Richard Karl Kretzschmann. (Her first husband, Erich Bauer was killed in the war while serving in the military, after they had only been married 2 months.) They experienced many hardships during the American and later Russian occupation and had to work hard to survive.
Richard attended church meetings with Adina and was baptized on April 12, 1946. They were married on April 20, 1946. Richard worked in a federalized factory after the war and was soon promoted to manager of 5 plants, even though he would not join the Communist party. In 1952, while serving as branch president, he attended a special church conference in West Germany which was attended by American church leaders. Because he had access to secret plans and kept a notebook, he was suspected of spying and was accused of stealing. Fortunately, he was warned by his boss and had time to gather his wife and daughter, Sonja, and a few belongings and they were able to get to West Germany. They stayed in a refugee camp until they could get a sponsor to come to America. In 1953, they immigrated to Utah and stayed with friends until they could find a home. They did not speak English at first and struggled to find employment. Adina worked where she could, cleaning homes and as a seamstress for Little America hotels.
A second child, LeRoy Richard Kretzschmann, was born on December 5, 1956, and they soon found the home on Harrison Avenue that would be theirs for the rest of their lives. Adina served in many positions in the Hawthorne Ward and had a beautiful singing voice, singing solos in church meetings. She always made sure her children were well-dressed and had all that they needed, sacrificing her own well-being when needed.
Grandma Kretzschmann is survived by her daughter, Sonja (Bob), her son, LeRoy (Jill Christie), her 7 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Many thanks go to the Care Source hospice workers and care givers Sofi, Leti, and Sulia, who made it possible for her to die in her home, which she always wanted.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday February 19, 2014 at the Emerson Ward, 808 E. Roosevelt Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and one hour prior to the funeral services on Thursday, February 20th at 12:00 noon. Interment will be at the Redwood Memorial Estates cemetery, 6500 S. Redwood Road in West Jordan, Utah.