my ancestors: Ernst Korn and Anita Korn nee Busch

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my grandparents: Ernst Korn and Anita Busch
Ernst Korn

June 22, 1915 - August 28, 2003
parents:
Frithjof Korn
Dora Johanna Korn nee Wetendorf
sibling:
brother: Richard Korn, born about 1913
profession: advertising specialist (Werbefachmann)

ring

October 15, 1942

Anita Korn nee Busch

March 22, 1920 - December 9, 1995
parents:
Johann Jakob Busch
Auguste Busch nee Dührkop
sibling:
sister: Martha zur Linde nee Busch (Dec 22, 1906 - about 1998/99, married with Friedrich zur Linde on Nov 12, 1929)

Ernst was born and raised in Hamburg-Hammerbrook, Germany. He enjoyed swimming and also had a deep passion for art. As a young ambitious man he dreamed of continuing his education and advancing in life. However, in 1933, when his father lost his job, Ernst was forced to leave school and instead began an apprenticeship as a typesetter. Despite this, he continued to pursue his love for art, taking night classes at the Hamburg Art Academy and even enrolling in remote courses while serving in France during World War II.

Anita was born and raised in Hamburg-Altona, Germany. Her father passed away shortly before her second birthday, a devastating loss, but her mother was a strong and resilient woman. Anita grew up helping out in the family grocery store, learnt to play the piano and enjoyed swimming and also had a strong relationship with her elder sister Martha.

Sometimes they would visit their relatives in Gross Barnitz, Lokfeld or in Rübke. To go there they would take the train and then their relatives would meet them at the train station in a horse-drawn carriage.

Anita and Ernst met at a youth event filled with dance and music, where they fell in love. They married on October 15, 1942.

During the night of July 24 /25 1943 the building where Anita and her mother had their apartment and shop got bombed out and Anita and her mom only escaped seconds before everything turned into rubble. At first Anita fled with her mother to her sister Martha who lived in Stettin at the time. But already in November she returned to Altona to work for a wholesaler staying with a cousin of her mother, Wilhelm Dührkop, and his wife. In the summer of 1944 Ernst became a prisoner of war in France and was brought to Italy.

Things began to improve in the fall of 1945 when Ernst finally returned home and they were able to start their family. They had two children, one of whom was my father Karsten. Anita loved her family and always looked after everyone. She also maintained a close bond with her sister Martha throughout her life.

After a few years in Hamburg, Anita and Ernst briefly considered emigrating (to South Africa), but ultimately decided against it. Instead, they moved to Wilhelmshaven, a small North Sea town. My father started school there. Two years later, they relocated to Duisburg, where Ernst worked as a designer for steel advertisements.

In Duisburg they had a big cherry tree in the garden and Anita baked many countless delicious cherry cakes. However she will also be fondly remembered for her irresistible waffles. Truly the best!

Ernst cultivated roses in their garden and also made sure that everyone else in the family were planting some.

Anita and Ernst loved to travel. In the first years after the war they stayed in Germany, returning to Wilhelmshaven several times as well as visiting Bavaria and other places. But soon they began to frequently spend vacations at the beach in Texel and Domburg in the Netherlands. They also explored other destinations, including Denmark, Spain and especially France, a country that Ernst adored.

After Ernst retired they embarked on organised art tours visiting art museums across Europe.

When their landlord in Duisburg wanted to do major renovations they decided to move towns once more to be closer to their daughter.

Ernst did not seem to have stayed in touch with any of his relatives and so I unfortunately don't know anything about his brother or his other relatives. He mentioned that he had a brother called Richard but unfortunately that was all.

Anita was not only very close to her sister Martha throughout her life but also kept in touch with her other relatives. Martha had four children, 3 girls (Gisela, Elke and Hiltrud) and a boy called Dieter. The eldest, Gisela, already passed away in 1984. Anita always kept in touch with them but unfortunately these connections got lost when she passed away.

She also kept in touch with her cousin Willi Busch and his wife Inge who had 4 children.

During the funeral of my grandma some of them were present and I chatted nicely with them but it's so long ago that I don't remember any details.

After Anita had passed away in 1995 Ernst felt very lonely but soon found himself a new girl-friend. He passed away in 2003.

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If you have any photos or infos of my ancestors or if you are a (near or remote) relative then I would love to hear from you!