Magdalena (Leni) Kolling died peacefully at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital on May 9, 2022, at age 88. Magdalena was born in St Georgen, Yugoslavia (now Serbia) on November 4, 1933, to Nikolaus Lutsch and Elisabeth Lutsch (Maus). Leni lost her mother to tuberculosis at a young age. As a young girl, she was held in a Russian Concentration Camp at the end of World War II, which she escaped from.
After residing in Linz, Austria for several years after the war, she emigrated with her father and stepmother, Maria V. Lutsch, to Detroit in 1951. She became a US citizen on November 27, 1956. Leni married Josef Kolling in 1954 and they began their life together in East Pointe, Michigan. They had lived only miles apart in the “old country” but met for the first time in their adopted homeland. She first worked in food manufacturing then as a seamstress for Ford, prior to her and Josef having three sons. She later worked in their German butcher shop in Detroit and then as a chef for Prophet Foods, GM Tech Center. Her final career move was to become an unpaid caretaker to her grandchildren, forging deep bonds, and driving long distances to make it work.
Leni was immensely devoted to her family and provided help whenever and wherever needed – she always did way more than her share. Josef predeceased her in 2020. She is survived by her three sons Josef (Barbara), Johann (Christa) and Nikolaus. Magdalena was blessed with eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Leni spent summer weekends at their Lake Columbia cottage for over five decades and spent winters in Florida later in life. Leni enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world. She enjoyed reading German language short stories, cooking and baking and Hallmark movies. She was in her element when hosting large family gatherings. She was an active member of Carpathia Club, including the Frauen Gruppe.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, June 4, at 10 am. St. Isidore Catholic Church, 18201 23 Mile Road, Macomb, Michigan. Reception following at Carpathia Club, 38000 Utica Road, Sterling Heights.
In lieu of flowers, please consider the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society – https://givenow.lls.org.
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To Joe and Barb, John and Christa and Nikolaus with sadness and deepest sympathy for the loss of your mother. She was a mother to be proud of and a great friend from our Yugoslavien days for us to have and she will be remembered fondly. It was our privilege to know her.
Konrad and Annemarie Gerhardt
Some words to the Kolling Family from Germany:
Die Nachricht hat uns mit großer Trauer erreicht. Wir erinnern uns dankbar an ihre Gastfreundschaft bei unseren Besuchen in Detroit und die schöne Reise nach Florida. Sie hat so viel Humor und Lebensfreude ausgestrahlt und ihre ganze Aufmerksamkeit galt stets der Familie. Wir behalten Tante Leni in guter Erinnerung.
Norbert und Gerdi Lorenz