Service Details
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home, 4600 County Line Road
- Visitation – 11:00 a.m.
- Service – 12:00 pm
- Interment – Graceland Cemetery
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Julie’s Personal Touch
Racine/Mt. Pleasant – Erwin Hermann Poetschke, 92, passed away at Ascension/ All Saints Hospital on Friday, March 9, 2018. He was born in Eydtkuhnen (East Prussia), Germany on June 25, 1925, son of the late Hermann and Martha Poetschke) and immigrated as a family to Racine where he has lived since childhood. He loved school and was a graduate of Park High School in Racine. On July 25, 1953 Erwin married Lorraine Anna Kowalski at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. She preceded him in death in 2009.
Erwin is survived by his nieces and nephews Mary (Al) Mollerskov of Mt. Pleasant, Robert Poetschke of Harrison, Arkansas, and Margaret (Paul) Empie of Denver, Iowa; great-nephews Jay (Anne) Mollerskov, Tim Mollerskov, and Jonathan Empie. He was also preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law Gerhardt and Betty Poetschke.
Erwin owned and operated Master-Built Upholstery in Uptown Racine alongside his father and brother for many years. He enjoyed traveling, sports, playing cards and square dancing with Lorraine. He was an accomplished chess master, a Wisconsin State Chess Champion. Erwin was a quiet and light-hearted man whose presence at the Deutsche Manner Verein (German Club) of Racine was always welcomed.
A service celebrating Erwin’s life will be held in the funeral home Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 12:00 noon with Rev. John Roekle officiating. Interment will follow in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Wednesday prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Lastly, special thanks to Racine Commons Assisted Living for the special attention by staff given to Erwin for nearly 9 years; the nurses and supporting staff at Ascension / All Saints Hospital (Floor 2D) for their kindness and dedication; and finally, to Grace Hospice for compassion and care provided to Erwin and all of us. We remember Erwin with great love and admiration, and he is already dearly missed. The Greatest Uncle EVER!
Michael T. Nelson says
Mary, and Bob. I suspect you were quite close to uncle Erwin. He look like a kind fun man. It’s alway’s difficult to lose a loved one, but perhaps you, and all the kids kept him around for so long. I know he will alway’s be In you’re memory. My condolences to all who loved him.