Lothar Konietzko

Lothar Ehrenfried Konietzko Lothar Ehrenfried Konietzko, age 83, passed away December 10, 2008 in Saline, Michigan, after a long struggle to survive from stomach cancer. Lothar was born on March 15, 1925, in Kalitka, Prussia to Fredrich and Helene (Ulbrich) Konietzko. He grew up in Brandenbergerheide near the Baltic Sea. After attending grade school, he received his glider license at age 16, and went on to obtain a pilot's license. Lothar came from a third generation forestry family becoming a fourth generation forester like his father and grandfather before him. He carried his love of nature and the outdoors with him his entire life. During World War II, Lothar was a German fighter pilot enrolled in the German Luftwaffe along with his brother Siegfried and Wolfgang Konietzko. As the war progressed and the Russians moved through Prussia, Lothar escaped Prussia during the wintertime and headed toward Germany. He left his family home behind and walked across an 18-mile stretch of ice covering the Frische Half Lake close to the Baltic Sea. Once in Germany, and after the war, Lothar became a refugee seeking work because Prussia had been overtaken by Russia. Unable to find forestry employment, Lothar immigrated to the United States in 1954 sponsored by an American pilot, and arrived in New York Harbor on the SS America. Lothar started a new life and career in Wayne, Michigan, where he resided until his death. He was employed with the Associated News Papers and worked as the Chief Photographer for the Wayne Eagle. Lothar won many awards for his beautiful and dramatic photos. He was a founding member and past president of the Michigan Press Photographers Association, he was a past president of the Wayne-Westland Federal Credit Union and V-8 Hunting Club located in Atlanta, Michigan. Lothar was also a lifetime member of the National Press Photographers Association, and took photos of United States Presidents from Eisenhower to Clinton. In his leisure time, Lothar spent time at his cabin on the Thunder Bay River, at the V-8 Club in Atlanta, Michigan. Nearly every year from 1954 forward he captured a deer and visited with fellow hunting friends. Lothar maintained his membership at the club for nearly 50 years. Lothar is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Siegfried and Wolfgang, and various Aunts, Uncles and cousins. He is survived by his youngest brother Roland Konietzko of Germany; his children, Karin Konietzko of Wayne, MI, Lothar (Kelly) Konietzko of Charlotte, MI, and Heidi (Michael) Hagen of Muskegon, MI; his grandchildren, Natalie, Stefanie and Alex Lembovski, Olivia and Alexis Konietzko; his nephews Harald, Mathias, Andreas, Norbert (Cindy) and Stuart Konietzko, and niece Hella Konietzko. Lothar's funeral was held December 13, 2008, at Green Funeral Home in Atlanta, Michigan. Interment took place at Briley Township Cemetery in Atlanta.
After attending grade school, he received his glider license at age 16, and went on to obtain a pilot's license. Lothar came from a third generation forestry family becoming a fourth generation forester like his father and grandfather before him. He carried his love of nature and the outdoors with him his entire life. During World War II, Lothar was a German fighter pilot enrolled in the German Luftwaffe along with his brother Siegfried and Wolfgang Konietzko.
As the war progressed and the Russians moved through Prussia, Lothar escaped Prussia during the wintertime and headed toward Germany. He left his family home behind and walked across an 18-mile stretch of ice covering the Frische Half Lake close to the Baltic Sea. Once in Germany, and after the war, Lothar became a refugee seeking work because Prussia had been overtaken by Russia. Unable to find forestry employment, Lothar immigrated to the United States in 1954 sponsored by an American pilot, and arrived in New York Harbor on the SS America.
Lothar started a new life and career in Wayne, Michigan, where he resided until his death. He was employed with the Associated News Papers and worked as the Chief Photographer for the Wayne Eagle. Lothar won many awards for his beautiful and dramatic photos. He was a founding member and past president of the Michigan Press Photographers Association, he was a past president of the Wayne-Westland Federal Credit Union and V-8 Hunting Club located in Atlanta, Michigan. Lothar was also a lifetime member of the National Press Photographers Association, and took photos of United States Presidents from Eisenhower to Clinton.
In his leisure time, Lothar spent time at his cabin on the Thunder Bay River, at the V-8 Club in Atlanta, Michigan. Nearly every year from 1954 forward he captured a deer and visited with fellow hunting friends. Lothar maintained his membership at the club for nearly 50 years.
Lothar is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Siegfried and Wolfgang, and various Aunts, Uncles and cousins. He is survived by his youngest brother Roland Konietzko of Germany; his children, Karin Konietzko of Wayne, MI, Lothar (Kelly) Konietzko of Charlotte, MI, and Heidi (Michael) Hagen of Muskegon, MI; his grandchildren, Natalie, Stefanie and Alex Lembovski, Olivia and Alexis Konietzko; his nephews Harald, Mathias, Andreas, Norbert (Cindy) and Stuart Konietzko, and niece Hella Konietzko.
Lothar's funeral was held December 13, 2008, at Green Funeral Home in Atlanta, Michigan. Interment took place at Briley Township Cemetery in Atlanta.