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Heidi Krahn

Date of Death: July 17, 2016

Date of Birth: May 4, 1929

Biography:

TOPSHAM: Heidi Krahn, 87, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2016 at the Highlands, a retirement community in Topsham, Maine. The family is grateful for the care and guidance from wonderful staff at the Highlands as well as the CHANS Hospice Program. She was born and grew up on a farm in West Prussia (formerly Germany). Her family’s harrowing escape in World War II was told in a novel by author Chris Bohjalian, Skeletons at the Feast. After the war she studied nursing, receiving degrees from Germany, England, and then the U.S. She was passionate about her nursing career, working at Choate Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts, and later Symmes Hospital in Arlington, Massachusetts in the medical-surgical department. While in England, she met Hans-Joachim Krahn as a pen-pal. They married September 17, 1955 and immigrated to the United States in May 1956 when he was offered a one-year assignment, which turned into 50+ years. They lived in Burlington, Massachusetts from 1961 to 2005 when they moved to Topsham, Maine. He preceded her in death on July 23, 2008. She loved to travel with her husband, with many trips across the U.S. and visiting four continents. She loved horses and skiing. She also loved to dote on her grandchildren. After moving to Topsham in their retirement, she jumped into all activities offered by the Highlands: walking the nature trails, swimming in the pool, trips to the opera, theater, and musicals. She also loved good conversation at dinner with the residents, as well as the glass of red wine. She is survived by three sons: Wolf-Dieter Krahn (Dale Ann) of Jamestown, New York, Hans- Peter Krahn (Carolyn) of Freeport, Maine, and Gerd-Rüdiger Krahn (Laura) of Vergennes, Vermont; six grandchildren: Jonathan Krahn (Tamra) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Martin Krahn of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Erik Krahn of Sausalito, California, Monika Pfistner (Dan) of Beverly, Massachusetts, Karl Krahn (Anna) of Williston, Vermont, and Greta Krahn of Vergennes, Vermont; her brother Hildebrand Henatsch, of Hamburg, Germany; and two brothers-in-law, Lutz-Peter Krahn (Burgl) of Bavaria, Germany and Wolf-Martin Krahn of Hamburg, Germany. . Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters and three brothers. A celebration of her life will be planned later this month in Topsham, Maine. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Maine Adaptive Sports: www.maineadaptive.org. When the strength of life is exhausted, death comes as a salvation.