Herbert Falk, was born on March 5, 1931 in Mingolsheim, Baden, Germany, as son of the Jewish parents Julius Falk and Karolina Oestreicher.
He doesn’t remember much about his early childhood in Germany. When Herbert was five years old, his mother died in Mingolsheim and his grand mother Betty Oestreicher, nee Fuld, cared about him. His father took him sometimes to the Schwefelbad, where Germans went to cure their various illnesses in healing water. They went to a restaurant and had a treat after the bath.
Herbert Falk still remembers the name of some of his classmates in Mingolsheim and his teacher Ludwig Springer, who was a Nazi. Once Mr. Springer drove with his bicycle to a Nazi meeting and went past Herbert Falk’s home. Herbert should have greeted him with “Heil Hitler”, but he did not. Hence, next day at school Mr. Springer slapped Herbert’s face.
In December 1938 he immigrated with his grandmother Betty Oestreicher and his uncle Max Oestreicher on the ship “Europa” from Bremen to New York. Max Oestreicher was previously interned in a concentration camp. His mother appealed to the mayor of Mingolsheim to write a letter stating that Max was a good person and should be released from the camp. The mayor delayed this letter till almost the last minute. Herbert and his grandmother were all set to leave for America without Max when he finally came home at three o’ clock a.m., the day they had to leave. It was very cold and Max, as well the other prisoners, had to spend most time outside but he without proper clothes.
Herbert remembers that the hands of his uncle Max were really cold – nearly frostbitten.
On the voyage zu America Herbert only remembers that there was a big playroom on the ship where he went every day to play with other kids.
After arriving in New York, they did not had to go to Ellis Island, because they had a sponsor in the United States. This sponsor was Mrs. Sophie Grass, nee Dreifuss, founder of Mrs. Grass Soup (today: Wyler’s Mrs. Grass Soup and Dip Mixes, a division of H. J. Heinz Company).
In the United States Herbert lived with his grandmother and his uncle Max on a dairy farm in Illinois. Max worked for the owner of the farm. Herbert remembers that his grandmother did a lot of baking.
He got one letter from his father after Julius Falk was a prisoner in the Dachau concentration camp. This was the last sign of life from his father. As they never heard from Julius again, the family came to the conclusion that he was murdered in the camp. Herbert Falk was too young to develop any feelings about the fate of his father and other relatives.
After his grandmother died in 1943 he was raised in the family of his uncle Max and aunt Rose until he left for the army in 1954.
After the Army, Herbert found work at a few different places before he landed a job with a guy who installed garage doors. Then he worked for a lumber company before starting his own business.
At first he installed storm doors, garage doors and windows, but eventually just installed and repaired garage doors. He became quite successful in that business (Herb’s Door Service) and was well known in the region. One of his sons started working for him right after he graduated high school and now runs the business.
Herbert Falk’s aunt Bertha Oestreicher who was also born in Mingolsheim (1906-1993) emigrated before 1937 to Chicago, Illinois. She was married in Chicago to Nathan Joseph Wolf (1899-1988). They had a daughter Karolina (1937-1998) who was handicapped. Herbert Falk’s family had a lot of contact with Bertha, Nathan and their daughter Karolina (Karol). Karol spent one or two weeks during the summer with Herbert’s family in their house. So she had a chance to get some “country air” and get out of the apartment in Chicago for a while.
As the three of them got older Herbert Falk took care of their affairs. Herbert Falk lived in Illinois. He was married, had two daughters and two sons, four grandchildren and actually four great-grandchildren.
He died on June 23 2018 at home.
Created by Tobias Rachor according to the memoirs of Herbert Falk, Illinois