Obituary of Hans G. Hottenrott

Hans G. Hottenrott Hans Guenther Hottenrott, age 83, died at Gulf Health Care Center in Galveston, TX on Saturday, April 24, 2010 after a short illness. He leaves his wife of 48 years, Rita (Jaeger) Hottenrott; his son Peter Hottenrott and wife Mary (van Zutphen) Hottenrott and grandson Michael of Westmont, NJ; his daughter Capt. Carol Hottenrott, USN of Everett, WA; his daughter Catherine (Hottenrott) Foster and husband Andrew Foster and grandchildren Brady, Luke and Lexi of Concord, CA; his daughter Susan (Hottenrott) Spark and husband Robert Spark of Cypress, TX; his brother Werner Hottenrott of Burg, Germany; his sister Marlis (Hottenrott) Artzt of Cologne, Germany; his niece Katrin (Hottenrott) Wetzel and nephew Christoph Hottenrott and several cousins. He was born on February 13, 1927 in Burg bei Magdeburg, Germany, the son of Hugo and Francesca (Werner) Hottenrott. He lived much of his life in the Poughkeepsie area before moving to Galveston, TX in 2004. During WWII, he served as a Luftwaffenhelfer (Flakhelfer) and then in the German Army for 2 years. After the war, he came to the United States as an exchange student, studying at Auburn University in Alabama. He emigrated to the United States in 1953 and became a citizen in 1960. Mr. Hottenrott completed his undergraduate education at New York University, and earned a Master's degree in Physics from Syracuse University in 1958. At Syracuse, he met his future wife, Dr. Rita Jaeger and they were married on April 28, 1962. He was employed by IBM for 34 years, working in both the Poughkeepsie and East Fishkill facilities, and is credited with several patents. He retired in 1993. Mr. Hottenrott had a particular interest in naval history and celestial navigation, and was a long time member of the United States Power Squadron and Chelsea Yacht Club. Family will receive their friends on Thursday, April 29, 2010 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, April 30 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Wappingers Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Hospice Foundation, 2120 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.