Christel Gertrud Kies

Christel Gertud Kies was born June 7, 1934 to Karl and Frieda Marx in Berlin, Germany. Her father passed away in 2003 at the age of 91, and her mother, in July 2009 at the age of 95, in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. She had one brother, Peter Marx, who resided in Shelby Township, Michigan. In 1937 the family moved from Berlin to Leegebruch, a small town. After graduation, at the age of 14, Christel went to work at the steel company in Hennigsdorf and entered an apprenticeship program and became an industrial salesperson. In 1950 the family moved back to Berlin, which was occupied by the Russians. Christel traveled 3 hours each day, going back and forth to work. In 1952, at great peril, Christel's family, along with her grandmother, crossed the Communist East German border into West Germany. They left everything behind in order to escape. There were no family members that would house them, so they stayed at a camp for a week. Several friends were able to take them in, but only if the family split up. There was a large migration from Germany to Canada during that time, because of the abundance of work available to domestic helpers and farmers in Canada. Germany had been decimated after the war, and life was very difficult there. Many left to make a future elsewhere. So, in 1953, her family submitted paperwork to emigrate to Canada. Christel was approved; however, her mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was denied entry. Christel went to Canada alone. She sailed from Bremer, Germany on the Beaverbrae ship to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. From there, she took a train to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada to work as a domestic helper. She worked there for 4 months and then met her future husband, Kurt Kies. She still owed $100 for her passage on the ship. Kurt paid the $100 to get her out of the contract. That left her free to leave Victoria with him. Her hobbies included writing poetry and letters, and gardening, for which she received a Beautification Award from the City of Warren in 1995. Christel was a proud Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother. She loved to spoil the children, but most of all she loved the Lord. She loved this country. Christel was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 65 years, Kurt, her parents, and her brother, Peter. She leaves behind three sons, Peter (Judy) Kies, Dieter (Melissa) Kies, and David (Kristen) Kies; four grandchildren, Jason Kies, Kevin (Debbie) Kies, Kelly (Andrew) Minikus, and Austin Kies. She was the great-grandmother of twelve, Brooke, Peyton, and Blake Kies; Emilynn, Isaiah, Isaac, Rachel, Luke, and Jacob Minikus, and Evan, Kelsey, and Abigale Kies. Visitation Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 3-8pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile). Instate 10am until time of 11am funeral at Bethesda Christian Church, 14000 Metro Parkway (enter off Schoenherr, south of Metro Parkway), Sterling Hts. Entombment, Cadillac Memorial Gardens East, Clinton Township. Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association are appreciated. Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com

Christel Gertrud Kies

June 7, 1934 - July 19, 2026