Emmi Lia Klatte

Emmi Lia (nAC.e Billmann) Klatte was born in Zirndorf, Germany on November 8, 1929. She passed away peacefully on September 7th, 2013 in Columbia, MD at the age of 83.

She was greatly loved and will be deeply missed. Emmi valued time with her family and had a way with children. She always had room on her lap for one of her children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren. She loved to cook, bake, sew, knit, shop and travel. She was a wonderful storyteller and great friend to all.

Emmi was the daughter of Maria (nAC.e Christoph) and Johann Michael Billmann. While on a double date with her older sister Ella in Eschwege, Germany, she met Sgt. Charles Joseph Klatte of Manhattan, NY in 1950. It was love at first sight and six weeks later they were married on August 2nd, 1950 in Zirndorf. They had five children: Dennis, Adele, Theresa, Michael and Charles Jr. Due to his military career, they moved many times.

Emmi spoke very little English when she first arrived in the US, but quickly learned a new language and customs. Home was where the Army sent them which included: Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Germany. After his retirement, Emmi and Charles lived in Matawan, NJ. Emmi traveled often to visit her children and grandchildren as they lived in places such as Australia, England, Belgium, Germany, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada and Florida. They were blessed with 39 years of marriage until his death in 1989.

After his passing, Emmi moved to Shillington, PA and lived there for 23 years near her daughter Theresa. She continued to travel whenever possible. In November 2009, she visited Germany one last time with her son Dennis and daughter-in-law Gina. She moved in with them in 2012 and later moved to the Lorien Nursing Home in Columbia, MD.
She waspreceded in death by her beloved husband Charles Klatte, parents Michael and Maria Billmann, her sister Ella Horton, brother-in-law Dennis Horton and nephew Horst Kraeck. She is survived by her numerous family members including: her son Dennis (Gina) Klatte, granddaughters Elise (Douglas) Cruz and Faye Billmann, great-granddaughters Sophie and Rosie Cruz; her daughter Adele (David) Olgeirson, granddaughters Emmily (Pietro Poggi-Corradini), Sarah (Jason) Bauer, Louisa (Matthew) Asbury, great-grandchildren Jordan, Alexandra, Owen and Ethan Bauer, Anna, Giovanni, Francesca and Carlo Poggi-Corradini, Hunter Peters, Waylon Peters and Reagan Asbury; her daughter Theresa (Kerry) Seigfried, granddaughter Cheryl McCauley and step-grandson Steven McCauley; her son Michael (Angie) Klatte, grandchildren Melissa and Thomas Klatte; son Charley (Linda) Klatte, grandchildren Lesley (Billy) Martin and Ben (Tracey) Klatte , great-grandchildren Bill Jr, Finn and Carter Martin, Mitchal and Jack Klatte.
nephews Werner (Cindy) Horton and Dennis (Mary) Horton
nieces Patricia (Christopher) Krisanda and Theresa L.Klatte