Obituary: Hans Baumgarten
After fleeing Germany before World War II, he returned to fight the Nazis, then helped build a family business.
Hans Julius Baumgarten, beloved husband of Jean Baumgarten, passed away Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017, surrounded by loved ones.
He was a man of integrity with an inquisitive, sharp mind and an amazing sense of humor who made everyone he spoke to feel special.
He was born in Berlin, Germany, on July 7, 1924, to Frederich and Marianne Baumgarten. After living in Austria, at age 12 he took one of the last kindertransports to England, where he lived in a boys’ home and worked. In 1940, along with his mother and brother, Hans took a ship to Quebec and a bus to New York City, where they were all reunited with his father.
Hans registered for the Army in 1942, but because he was not a citizen, he was not accepted at that time. Not long after, he was drafted and became the first Baumgarten to become a U.S. citizen. During World War II he was stationed in Germany and served as a Signal Corps driver, where he fixed and integrated telephone communication systems for the Allied forces.
After the war, Hans met and married Jean and settled in Atlanta to build Baumgartens Exclusive Imports with his parents, which continues as a family business today.
Hans is survived by his love of more than 70 years, Jean; adoring children Susan McCarter, Ellen Waldman, Nancy Butler, Kathy Scheer and David Baumgarten; grandchildren Elisa Waldman, Andrea Waldman, Adam Bloom, Amanda Weissman, Emily Scheer, Allison Martin, Andrew Scheer and Zion Baumgarten; and 10 great-grandchildren. A military graveside service was held Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Alvin Sugarman officiating.
Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or an armed forces unit of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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