Herbert F Tetens Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Herbert F. Tetens, passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 26, 2019. He was 87 years old. Loving Father to Diana R., David A., and Christopher M. Doting Opa to Vera S., David B., and Hugo A. Caring Father in law to Wendy Wallace and Yanna Fotiadis. Best brother in the World to twin sisters, Ulla and Gilla. Herb is preceded in death by his brother, Gunter. Born in Kappeln, Germany on January 23, 1932, Herbert F. Tetens survived some of the most horrific fighting of WWII, including countless allied bombing raids. During one of the air raids, a bomb scored a direct hit on his house, trapping him under the rubble for three full days. In the final weeks of the war he fled Berlin, where he was attending school, in advance of the approaching Russian Army. It was a harrowing three-week journey he took by foot during the cold winter. He arrived home in Kappeln, three weeks later, exhausted, after having witnessed some of the worst fighting and bombing the war had to offer. While his father was being held as a prisoner of war in Denmark, Herb risked life and limb to make sure his mother and sisters had enough food to survive through the crippling post war shortages when many died of starvation. In the years following the war, Herb apprenticed as a butcher and earned his Meister Prufung. On November 1, 1952, with $10 in his pocket he boarded the passenger Ship Britannia in Bremerhaven bound for New York City, USA. He found ample employment in the booming post war American economy while learning English and earning his GED at night. In early 1953, during the Korean War Herb was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as a RADAR operator at Fort Meade, Maryland, while training in counter espionage with a group of foreign born U.S. nationals. Upon honorable discharge, Herb went back to work in New York's meat industry and attended St. Peter’s college at night. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree and went on to put his wife and three children through college, in addition giving generously to the future education of his grandchildren. For over 35 years, Herbie was VP of operations for Marathon Enterprises, a job he loved. A man of legendary strength and stamina, Herb didn’t miss a single days work until he was in his 70’s. Herb will be terribly missed, but his heart of gold, honesty and caring for others will sustain all who knew him. A life celebration and memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 3, 2019, 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM at 61 Local located at 61 Bergen St. Brooklyn, NY 11201.In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Herbert F. Tetens to the Dementia Society of America by mail to PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate