Maria Krautner

Maria Krautner passed away on Friday, Jan 19, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Maria was born on April 16, 1931 to Maria and Stefan Fleischer in Botsch Romania. In 1951, she married Michael Krautner in Salzburg, Austria. Their first son Michael was born in 1952. In 1955, the family moved to Royal Oak, Michigan to begin a new life. She was blessed with two more sons, John in 1958 and Henry in 1969. Those who cherish her memory will remember her love for the Lord. She spent countless hours in her dedicated prayer room surrounded by her pictures and prayer books, praying for the family and friends she loved so dearly. She enjoyed baking birthday tortes and especially her vast variety of Christmas cookies that she shared with everyone. She also loved knitting and crocheting. She donated dozens of baby blankets for newborns to St. Peter's and Beaumont Hospital. Her beautiful crocheted stars and bells will adorn the Christmas trees of family and friends for years and generations to come. Beloved wife of Michael. Loving mother of Michael (Barbara), John (Norma), Henry (Stacey) and the late George. Proud grandmother of Michael (Rebecca), Heidi (Greg) Kapanowski, Kurtis (Rachel), Kayla, Krista, Kendall and Alayna. Great grandmother of Cory, Brady, Brynley, Miles, Atticus and Sawyer. Dear sister of Rosina (the late Stefan) Brettfeld. Memorial gathering Friday 3-8 pm at the Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile Rd. (4 blks E. of Woodward), Royal Oak. The family will receive friends Saturday, 10 am until time of memorial service 11 am at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 11423 Chicago Rd., Warren 48093. Memorial contributions to St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 11423 Chicago Rd., Warren 48093 or Kindred Hospice, 25925 Telegraph Rd. S-102, Southfield 48033 are appreciated. Share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com Mein Lebenslauf - My Life Story - Maria Krautner This part was written in 2003 My birth name is Maria Fleischer and I was born on April 16, 1931 in Transylvania (Siebenbuergen) in the Saxon town of Beutsch, Botsch (or Batos, Romania). My parents are Maria Fleischer and Stefan Fleischer. My sister is Rosina and was born on September 7, 1935. I completed 7 grades of schooling in my hometown. In 1944, we had to leave our old homeland. It was September 12. The church bells were ringing in the town. It was very sad. We left with wagon and horses and oxen. It was very difficult and I can remember all of it. I was 13 years old. We were underway for 2 months. It was an extremely difficult time, especially for my parents and grandparents. We thank God that he protected us on the long escape. We arrived near Vienna in November and were subdivided into smaller groups. We stayed there until April of 1945. The battlefront of WWII kept coming closer and closer. We had to get away from Vienna. We only had ox drawn wagons and handbags. There were 19 of us and this escape was even more difficult than the first one. On the trip, we kept running into more and more people from our village of Beutsch (Botsch). The straffing bombers were so close, it is a wonder that we were all able to escape with our lives. We then arrived near Salzburg Austria and settled in the village of Anthering near Salzburg by a cattle farmer. We lived in a single room dwelling above a woodshed. There were 6 of us living in a space equal to 250 square feet. My mother and grandmother had to work as servants to the farmer in order to live in the dwelling. I was confirmed in 1946 and then I had to go work in a knitting factory. I worked on the machine to knit clothing. In 1951 I married Michael Krautner. He was also from my hometown of Beutsch (Botsch). We had a large wedding. We were married in the Evangelical Church in Salzburg. This next section was written by mom when she was 80 years old in 2012. Our first son Michael Krautner was born on January 29, 1952 in the Salzburg hospital. My husband caught tuberculosis shortly thereafter. He was a butcher and caught it from a cow. He was in the hospital for one full month and then in recovery for another one or two months. This was a very difficult time for me. I couldn't go visit him with the little baby. Thank God he made a full recovery. He always wanted to go to America. His brother Stefan Krautner already lived in Michigan. So on June 15, 1955 my husband, son, parents and sister arrived in Royal Oak, Michigan. We all lived for one full year with my husband's brother in Royal Oak. We were hoping to have another baby. It was another baby boy, but after 8 months, I had such terrible pain and went into labor. I lost too much blood. The baby (George) was still born, and I nearly died, but God stood by me and I recovered. In 1956, we bought our own house in Royal Oak. My husband was able to find work as a butcher right away at a large company called Hygrade Food. He worked there for 31 years until he retired in 1986. Our second son John was born on April 23, 1958, and our 3rd son Henry was born on February 7, 1969. Our 3 sons and their families are very good to us and we thank God for them every day. They are always there for us whenever we need something. We have reached a wonderful old age and have been married 66 years. I thank God every day that we are still together.

Maria Krautner

April 16, 1931 - January 19, 2018