Otto Liebergesell
August 20, 1925 - January 24, 2021
It is that little dash where an entire life is lived. The start of an incredible life began with his birth in Osnabrück, Germany, 1925. He had wonderful memories of spending time on his grandparents’ farm raising chickens, growing up with cousins and three brothers. At 17, he was drafted into the army and sent to Pas de Calais to dig tank ditches. He saw the planes of the Allied forces fly overhead by the thousands to Normandy. Captured by the American forces, he was eventually sent as a POW to Ft. Benning, Georgia. There he was put in charge of raising carrier pigeons and raised show turkeys for the commanding staff. One of his favorite memories as a POW was smoking a 10-cent cigar, eating Georgia peaches, and watching the southern sunsets. He developed a fondness for Coca-Cola and Ritz crackers. With his charm and winning personality, he made friends with the American command staff and was offered sponsorship to the United States at the end of the war WWII. After his repatriation to Germany, he went to visit and thank the young lady who had sent him care packages during the war. Romance followed and he married his war-time sweetheart, Elisabeth Stiensmeier in her birthplace, Paderborn, Germany. His positive experiences at Ft. Benning convinced him to accept sponsorship to Utah, and he took a position at Holy Cross Hospital where he stayed employed for 42 years. As a plant engineer, he worked his way up to supervisor of all maintenance. Developing and maintaining the gardens was his favorite part of the job especially conserving and perpetuating the rose garden established by the Rose Garden Society of Salt Lake City. Otto founded the Holy Cross Hospital Employees Federal Credit Union which he successfully directed as treasurer for 44 years. In retirement, he continued to take delight in gardening but reading and politics were his greatest interests as well as collecting the fine art of the Diné peoples. His body aged, but his intellect and wit remained keen to the end. He passed peacefully due to natural causes on Sunday January 24, 2021. He is survived by his son Michael, daughters Monika and Magdalen, granddaughter Tashi, and his special little buddies Panda Bear and Buster whom he loved to spoil with all kinds of treats. His brothers, Paul and Hans and numerous nieces and nephews in Germany survive him. He is preceded in death by Elisabeth and his brother Rolf. We will miss his wonderful sense of humor, his wealth of stories and, of course, the barbequed turkeys.
The Liebergesell Family is incredibly grateful to Suncrest Home Health and Hospice (especially Hannah, Marjena, and Amber), Dr. Beth Hanlon, and Dr. Lisa Stout. Our deepest gratitude to our close friends Jenny, Karla, and Allan. Our profound thanks to our brother, Mike, for 25 years of ongoing caretaking and companionship.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. For those unable to attend, the service will be lived streamed and can be viewed by returning to this page and clicking the “Watch Service Now” button that will appear moments prior to the service beginning.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the following charities: Holy Cross Charity of Utah, Habitat for Humanity, Utah Humane Society, and Utah Food Bank.
In Loving Memory
I was saddened to hear of your father's passing though thoughts of him and your family brought back so many happy memories of my time living in Salt Lake City and how much your family influenced my life at that time. Fond memories of Sunday dinners at your home, learning to drink coffee, making sheet pans of plum cake, and always, your parents warm and welcoming hospitality with me. I was pleased to sit in on the funeral mass from afar and honor your father's memory. Thinking of you all. Kathy
Kathy Mostardi
New Hamburg, ON
Maggie and Tashi. I am sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like your father / grandfather led a very interesting life. I apologize for not being able to attend the funeral but my health will not allow it. Please know that my thoughts are with you. Love , Pat
Pat Johnson
South Jordan, UT
Michael, Monika, Magdalen, You are in my prayers as the death of your father. Both he and your mother were important parts in the lives of so many from the communities of Judge Memorial and Holy Cross Hospital. They set fine examples of kindness, charity and commitment for me. I will always think of them and you with fondness as I pass the corner of First South and Eleventh East. My best, Fr. John E. Norman
Rev John E Norman
nan, nan
Lieber Mike, liebe Monika, liebe Maggie, liebe Tashi, Mein herzlichstes Beileid für euch. Ich fühle mit euch verbunden mit lieben Grüßen an euch und auch ein letzter kleiner Gruß aus Deutschland an Otto
Claudia
Paderborn, Ge
Lieber Michael, liebe Monika und Magdalen, von Mama habe ich erfahren, dass euer Vater verstorben ist und möchte euch von uns (Mama, Franz-Josef Stiensmeier und meiner Familie) unser herzliches Beileid aussprechen. Ich wünsche euch für die nächste Zeit viel Kraft und liebe Menschen um euch, die euch trösten, zuhören und einfach mal in den Arm nehmen. Liebe Grüße aus Salzkotten und Paderborn, Beatrix Ehmann, Maria und Franz-Josef Stiensmeier
Beatrix Ehmann
Salzkotten, Ge
Dear Mike, dear Monika, dear Maggie and Tashi, our thoughts are with you. We were all very sorry to hear the sad news that Otto passed away. You have lost your father and grandfather, we have a lost a very good friend. .Otto will always be remembered as a great conversationalist when we met him in Paderborn or when we had him on the phone. These normally were calls of some length. We were impressed by his analytic mind when we talked politics. Otto was a wonderful host and tour guide during our visits to Salt Lake City in 1992 and 2004. Bianca even stayed with the family in Salt Lake City for several weeks. We are grateful to him for his generosity and his friendship. Otto may rest in God’s eternal peace. Please accept our deep sympathy yours, Dr. Otmar and Helga Allendorf (Bad Lippspringe/Paderborn) , Daniela (Bonn) and Bianca (Frankfurt) and their families (Germany)
Dr Otmar Allendorf
Bad Lippspringe/Paderborn (Germany), nan
To the Liebergesell clan, My condolences to you. Your Papa Otto's life story fascinated me from the first time I heard Monika tell it. I've surely retold it 25 times now myself. I am happy that you can all be together to celebrate his life. In the words of Father John O'Donohue, "Though your days here were brief, your spirit was live, awake, complete." I regret never meeting Papa Otto, but I will continue to carry his story with me and to retell it over and over again because it truly is one of the best I know.
Elynn Romweber
Germany, nan
Otto was a kind and very generous man. He loved having company and hosting people. He was very good on giving advice to me and our calls on Christmas had already become a special tradition. I will always remember my time & visits in Salt Lake City and the memories we shared. I miss you, Otto, but you will live on in my heart and memories.
Bianca Allendorf-Scharr
Germany, nan
Dear Liebergesell Family: I was sad to see Otto's obituary in the paper - I am so sorry that he has passed. What great memories of him at Holy Cross Hospital! And what an experience working with him in the Credit Union! I would love to come to the mass in person, but unfortunately, I was in contact with a person on Saturday, Jan. 30 that tested positive for COVID, so I'm just home in quarantine! My love and prayers to all. With great affection, Jean.
Jean S. Brown
Salt Lake City, UT
We are sending our heartfelt condolences to you, our dear friends Mike, Monika, Maggie and Tashi, in the words of Rabindranath Tagore, "Death is not extinguishing the light; it is turning off the lamp because the dawn has come." We have many happy memories of Otto's generosity, wit and, yes, his considerable charm, at dinner parties, the opera, and sitting in his kitchen discussing the ills of the very interesting state of Utah, public responsibility and the lack thereof, politics and historical events. When Karla worked at Holy Cross Hospital, she spent as much time as possible in the healing space of the rose gardens he cared for. We salute you, Otto, as the father of three delightful human beings and as the grandfather of an incredible granddaughter. We will miss you.
Karla Reading and Allan Ayoub
West Valley City, UT
I am really glad that I got to know Otto in his last year of life. I enjoyed our visits even if they were more work than fun but somehow Otto made them fun anyway. Sending my heartfelt condolences to his family who I know will miss him dearly.
Melissa Robertson
Salt Lake City, UT
a great men that will be miss my condolence to the family learn a lot from him
GILBERT S FORTUNE
HOLLADAY, UT
Monika. Very sorry to have heard your father died. He lived a long time and very active person. Thoughts of condolences to you and your family
Cathy Mason
West Jordan, Ut