Ilse Kretschmann

On April 7, 2025, God has brought home to Himself Ilse, who now rejoices in heaven forever. Ilse Emma Martha Teige was given life by her Creator and was born on May 1, 1932 in Grossenborau, Silesia, Germany, the child of Richard Teige and Emma Haenel. She was baptized on May 29, 1932, becoming a child of God. Through many trials and hardships, she remained faithful to God and kept her positive outlook and joy of life. She had a happy childhood until the outbreak of WWII. Her father was killed by a bombing in December of 1944 while serving in the army. Her two brothers were away also serving the army. After the war she and her family were forced out of their homeland and became refugees on the outskirts of Berlin. They eventually settled in the small town of Graeningen. Ilse was one of five children with two older brothers, Gerhard and Erwin, and two younger sisters, Inge and Ruth. Her mother remarried and she gained a loving stepfather, Gustav Janicke and many stepsiblings. Ilse was united in holy marriage to Rudolf Kretschmann on July 26, 1952. God blessed them with close to 60 years of married life together. God blessed them with one child, Monika. In January of 1957 their little family left East Germany and lived in West Berlin until November that year while waiting for their visas to immigrate to the USA. They lived in Jamaica, Queens for about two years, then bought a house in Bethpage, New York, in September of 1959. Ilse and Rudi moved once more, settling in Florida in 1980. After becoming US citizens, she and her family took many trips to Germany, beginning in 1966, to visit their families. Ilse served the Lord in Germany as a Kindergarten teacher. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and friend. She was a valued member of her husband’s construction company. She served the Lord at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bethpage, NY as well as Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry, FL., serving many years on the Altar Guild. Ilse enjoyed entertaining family and friends at her homes. Crocheting was one of her favorite pastimes, as evidenced by the multitude of blankets her family cherishes. She enjoyed sewing by hand, making Christmas ornaments, reading, baking, cooking, braiding clover flower crowns, dusting, and taking morning walks in her neighborhood. She had a green thumb, both inside and outside. One of her favorite activities was talking to people, giving advice and sharing her wisdom. She loved Facetiming, especially with the great-grands. She was a member of her neighborhood book club as well as the Central Florida German American Society. On April 7, 2025 at the age of 92 years, Ilse fell asleep in Jesus. She was predeceased by her husband, Rudolf, her parents, her brothers and many other family members. She is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Monika and John Cunneen, her granddaughter, Elizabeth Greenberg and husband, Eric, her grandson, Andrew Cunneen and wife, Natalie and her great-grandchildren, Lilly and Henry Cunneen and Emma, Hannah and Benjamin Greenberg. She is also survived by her sisters, Inge Driebush and Ruth Prothmann, sister-in-law Dora Hanisch as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and friends. Memorial donations may be made in Ilse Kretschmann’s name to Ascension Lutheran Church, 351 Ascension Drive, Casselberry, FL 32707 or St. Paul Lutheran Church, 449 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714.

Ilse Kretschmann

May 1, 1932 - April 7, 2025