Obituary of Amalie Kolb-Soenksen

Amalie Soenksen, nee Kolb, of Libertyville, born November 28, 1931 in Bad Abbach, Germany, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on May 13, 2023 at the age of 91. She was preceded in death by her first love Theodore J. Soenksen Sr. in 1968. She is survived by her children Theodore (the late Mary Rose) Soenksen Jr. and Trudy (Joseph) Valente; grandchildren Theodore (Clare) Soenksen III and Dianna (Tony) Repp; great grandchildren Theodore IV, Glenn, and Gus Soenksen, and Maria Rose and Charles Repp; siblings Hans Kolb, Mathilde (Hans)Vest, and Alfred (Roswitha) Kolb; sister-in-laws Grace (Harvey) Mitchell, Elfriede (Erich) Kolb, Rosa (Albert) Kolb, Waltraud (Ludwig) Kolb, and many nieces and nephews.

Amalie was preceded in death by her parents, Ludwig and Amalie Kolb, Bad Abbach, Germany; her sisters and brother-in-laws, Ida (Fred) Golla, Maria (Hans) Brunsteiner, Walli (Rudy) Neumeier, Milla (Franz ) Deml, sister, Helga Kolb, her brothers Ludwig, Albert and Erich and sister-in-law Wanda (Hans) Kolb.

From an early age, Amalie, the 5th born of 12 children, displayed a caring nature that would define her life's purpose. Growing up amidst the hardships before and after World War II, she quickly learned the value of hard work, courage,  resilience and unity as she cared for her younger siblings with utmost care as her parents worked as laborers in the farm fields and factory.  Amalie found joy in gardening, walking, knitting, listening to Elvis music, volunteering at Condell Hospital, playing bingo, drinking coffee with her baked soft cookies, and, not unusual for her to enjoy a cold beer after mowing the lawn.  She also had a special place in her heart for her beloved dog, Chico.

Encouraged by her sister Walli and family to come over to America at the age of 22, “the land where dreams come true”, above all, Amalie’s true passion was in caregiving. She embraced her role as a nanny, extending her nurturing spirit to several families over the years. Furthermore, within her own family, Amalie's caregiving skills were unparalleled. She created a haven of love and warmth, ensuring her loved ones felt protected, safe and cared for. She said if she did anything right she raised her two children to become loving, responsible adults, to work hard and be happy and to live a simple life, nothing extravagant and to have “just enough”. She will be dearly missed.

A celebration Memorial will begin at 9:30am and Mass will take place at 10:30a.m., Thursday, June 1, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 121 E. Maple Avenue, Libertyville, IL, 60048. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations made in memory of Amalie  to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org, would be greatly appreciated.