Katharina Thut

Katharina Thut, age 91, passed away in her home in Palatine cared for by her four children, Georg, Walter, Margarete, and Helga on Tuesday January 27th.

Katharina was born on September 12th 1934 in her parents’ home in Michelsberg, Romania. She was one of 5 siblings who all proceeded her in death. Sofia who died in a Russian camp at a very young age followed by Michael in 2011 at age 81, Franz in 2014 at age 74, and Anna in 2021 at the age of 92.

Despite many hardships that were compounded by living under communism, she managed to make a good life for her family. She was a hard worker all her life, caring for her siblings when their father was off in the war and also caring for her mother when she lost an eye due to an infection.

She married her late husband Georg in 1959, had four children and they lived in a two-room house until they were able to move into a bigger home vacated by relatives who moved to Germany. In 1978 they decided to try to get visas to the United States, because they had relatives in the US and it was easier to get US visas than German visas.

After four long years, and lots of paperwork, hoops to jump through and a bribe or two (or more), Katharina and Georg brought their family to Chicago in 1982. Through good old German grit, hard work, frugality and help from family, friends and the German community made a wonderful new home and life for themselves.

Katharina was a caretaker by nature, and spent most of her time caring for others. But she also loved the weekend parties/outings, dancing, cooking and especially baking. She brought joy to many throughout the years with her delicious cakes and cookies, which inevitably had to have a dash or two, or three of rum . She imparted that passion to her daughter, Helga and the knack for cooking to Margarete, Georg and Walter (well, I guess baking too).

She is survived by her 4 children and their spouses. Margarete (Manfred) Mahltig, Georg (Diethild) Thut, Walter (Kathi) Thut, and Helga (Rick) Faehnrich. And also, by her five grandchildren, Victoria, Alec (Catharine), Markus, Kyle (Emmy) and Karina.

A wake will be held at Rago Brothers Funeral Home on Saturday, January 31st from 1- 4 pm, with a service starting at 3:30.

The internment of the urn will be held on Wednesday, February 4th at noon at the Irving Park cemetary with a luncheon to follow at Edelweis Restaurant

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Transylvania Saxon Benefit Society, Br.9 to go towards a Scholarship fund in her name.