Adelheid Sigrid Else Helene Greuer
HANCOCK, MI- Adelheid Sigrid Else Helene (“Heidi”) Greuer (nee Teichmann) died early morning on December 7th, 2023, at U.P. Health System-Portage in Hancock, where she was admitted as a patient on the previous afternoon. Heidi was discharged as a patient from U.P. Health System-Marquette several hours before her admission to Portage hospital, who welcomed Heidi, made her comfortable, and cared for her during her last hours. Heidi was in an unresponsive state throughout her whole ordeal from one hospital to the next that day, and the causes of death include respiratory failure and sepsis.
Heidi was born on May 29th, 1934, the beloved eldest child of German Navy Captain Otto Teichmann and Lilli Teichmann (nee Weiss). Three brothers followed: Friederich-Karl (“Fiete”) in 1936, Harro in 1938, and Heinrich-Otto (“Heino”) in 1952.
She grew up during World War II in Germany. There she experienced her father being deployed for long periods of time to the North Atlantic and the Eastern Front. She also experienced being bombed by Allied forces, and remembered the thousands of war refugees who flooded her hometown as well as the starvation following World War II.
As Germany was slowly being rebuilt, Adelheid completed grade school and went on to complete her high school education at the Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium of Flensburg in 1958. She then went on to work for a year in Scotland as an Au Pair. Later, she attended the University of Heidelberg, where she got a degree as a technical translator specializing in English, French, and Spanish. There she formed many lifelong friendships, which she held very dear. From there, she moved to Essen, where she worked for about seven years for Krupp AG. There she met her neighbor, Dr. Rudolf (“Rudi”) Greuer, who later became her husband. They were married for 52 years, and Heidi and Rudi traveled the world together throughout their long marriage.
Heidi and Rudi arrived in the Upper Peninsula in 1967 for a one year sabbatical at Michigan Tech in Houghton, but they ended up falling in love with the U.P. and staying permanently. Up to the time of her death, Heidi still lived in the home they moved into in 1971, on East Street in Houghton.
In the years that followed, Heidi and Rudi’s children were born in Marquette. The subsequent years were filled with raising her children, hosting dinner parties, children’s activities, weaving, cross stitching, volunteering, taking family trips, spending time at the family log cabin at Bear Lake, antique shopping, luncheons with friends, and baking for afternoon tea. She provided a home for many of the neighborhood children.
She was involved with Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), Friends of Fashion, American Institute of Mining Engineers Womens Auxiliary (WAAIME), the Calumet Theatre, and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly. She also welcomed any German national into the house and gave them a place to feel at home. Heidi had a magnetic personality, which made people feel safe and loved in her presence. She was very cherished throughout the community.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dr. Rudolf Greuer, her brother Captain Fiete Teichmann, and a number of dear friends and pets. She is survived by her daughter Friederike (Dennis) Gast, granddaughter Lilli Gast, and her son, Dr. Wilhelm Max-Otto Greuer (Trina Larson). She is also survived by her good friend Billy Cron (Beth).
In Germany, she is survived by brothers Dr. Harro (Ortrud) Teichmann and Dr. Heino (Juliane) Teichmann. She is also survived by other German family members, including sister-in-law Rita Teichmann, brother-in-law Dr. Johannes-Traugott (Lilo) Greuer, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and countless adored friends left behind. Let us not forget her beloved chihuahua Arthur or her mastiff Max either.
The family would like to thank our community for their support and sympathy. Thank you to the staff at U.P. Health-Portage in Hancock for taking Heidi in when she had no place to go for help on her last day, making Heidi’s remaining hours comfortable, and showing there are indeed some who still care about her. Heidi is at peace now and no longer suffering.
There will be a celebration of life on May 29th, 2024, at the Bonfire in Houghton. This would have been her 90th birthday. An account for donations has been set up at the Breakwater Federal Credit Union. Just mention Heidi’s name when making a donation. Donations will be divided equally among: Little Brothers, PEO scholarships, Friends of Fashion, and the Copper Country Humane Society.
To view Heidi’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel has been assisting the family with the arrangements.