Margot Wrusch

MARGOT'S STORY Margot Margarete Bergemann was born March 29,1928 in Reinikendorf, Berlin, Germany. She was the only and youngest daughter of Willi and Margarete (Lange) Bergemann. Willi had an Autoschlosserei (car repair facility) and Margarete was a kindergarten teacher (later in an orphanage). She had two brothers, Willi and Kurt whom she had a lot of fun with and also got into a lot of mischief with. Margot loved singing and it wasn't long until she and brother Kurt started singing operettas together. Margot learned to be a stenographer, but her heart was in Music. She lived for the days she was with her brother on stage in Berlin. It was the time of the "Caberet". Hitler was starting to rise to power at this time and her brothers were drafted into the German army. Margot and Kurt were asked to sing for Hitler's troops. That is how she met Gerhard Werner Wrusch, a cadet in the German Navy. It was love at first sight for both of them. Their romance blossomed until the war broke out in full force. Gerhard went to the submarines as a mine sweeper. Her brothers to the western front. Bombs fell on Berlin for days and Margot and her mother were buried alive. They were finally rescued by the Red Cross. Meanwhile Kurt was killed in action and Willi was taken as prisoner of war to the Russian Gulag (later came back as a broken man). Gerhard's submarine was hit but was able to escape with his crew and swam to shore in Holland. The townspeople threw tomatoes at them, but they were glad to be alive and get back to Germany now that the war was over. Gerhard found Margot and her mother through the Red Cross. It was a joyous occasion! Soon after they were married amidst widespread hunger and other hardships. In 1950, their first child, Angela Monika was born. In 1953 they decided to emigrate to America. Gerhard went first, found work and a place to live in Windsor, Canada. Margot and Angela followed a year later. In October, 1955 they emigrated to the United States of America and settled in Detroit. Gerhard first worked for the booming auto industry and later as a baker for Zeeman's bakery. Margot worked at "The Little Cafe", a popular german restaurant, as a waitress. Several happy years later, Wilfried was born followed by the twins Michael and Martin. They brought Margarete (now Fritsch) over from Germany to help out and live with them. Soon after, they bought their first house on Cadillac street in Warren, Michigan. Here they worked, raised their children and had many happy years. In 1968 they moved to Utica, Michigan and settled in Shelby Township on 24 mile road. Here they finished raising their children, made many friends, had many parties (Margot was quite the entertainer and a fabulous cook! Her barbecued turkey, rolladen and apfelkuchen are legendary!) Everyone was welcome at this house, there was always something cooking on the stove or baking in the oven. She could cook for 3 or 100 with very little effort and would create something wonderful that looked spectacular. Her table settings were works of art. Everyone commented about this and loved being there with Margot and her wonderful sense of humor. When the children left, the grandchildren started coming, whom she adored! Gerhard and Margot bought into the "Diamond Bakery" in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan They ran a successful bakery with Margot in the front and Gerhard baking in the back. They felt they had achieved the "American Dream". The dream lasted until Gerhard had a heart attack, quadruple bypass and years of rehabilitation. He succumbed to heart failure in 1995. This broke Margot's heart that she had lost her Gerhard after 49 years of marriage. In 1998 Margot suffered a massive stroke that left her Blind. This was a great hardship for her but she didn't let it get her down. She attended the Kalamazoo school for the Blind and learned to function independently as a blind person. In 2000, Margot came to Tucson and lived at the Amber Lights until finally settling in to The Country Club of Lacholla. She made many friends and gave hope, laughter and friendship to many of the residents there. It was not a party without Margot. Many of her friends will attest to this. She had another setback several years ago when her son Martin died of sepsis due to intestinal obstruction. He was only 49, and his death took a real toll on her. Margot was an amazing strong woman. She was also very fashion conscious and concerned about her appearance.. Even to the very end, she never left her apartment unless she was all "done up". She could turn the heads of many a man even in her eighties. They loved her sense of humor most of all. Margot passed away peacefully sometime during the night before the morning of June 17, 2011. She just laid down on her bed and went to sleep. Margot was 83. Margot is survived by Angela Leckow and husband Bernd Leckow of Marana, Arizona; Wilfried Wrusch of Concord, North Carolina; Michael Wrusch of Los Angeles, California; Grandchildren: Derek Leckow, Aaron Leckow, Nickolas Leckow, Rachel Obenschain, Jason Wrusch, Alyssa Crump, Tiffany Wrusch, Martin Wrusch Jr., Christopher Wrusch, Margaret (Maggie) Wrusch; Great Grandchildren: Charlie Leckow, Ashley Leckow, Claire Leckow, Wilhelm Leckow, Abby Obenschain, Aiden Obenschain, Jayden Wrusch, Haley Wrusch, Karly Crump.