Dorette “Dorothea” Hertha Kersten Schlidt was born in Stargard, Pomerania (Germany) on April 16, 1921.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gustav and Bertha Kersten; brother; Gustav; sisters, Hedwig and Martha; and granddaughter, Jenny Garrett.
She enjoyed her childhood in her beloved hometown of Stargard, until World War II broke out. She was educated in a business school and worked in a law office until she was awarded a special assignment in Peenemuende, Germany. Only 21, Dorette became Wernher von Braun’s secretary until the end of the war. While in Peenemuende, she met Rudolf H. Schlidt, one of von Braun’s team members. They married on March 1st, 1945.
Dorette immigrated to the U.S. and reunited with Rudolf in Fort Bliss, Texas in 1947. There her first child, Sabina was born. In 1950 von Braun and his team of scientists were transferred to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. While in Huntsville the family had three more children, Carl Douglas Kersten, Gwendolyn Maria and Gabriella Dorette. Huntsville became a very happy home where Dorette and Rudolf raised their kids in the house they built on Monte Sano Mountain. Dorette was a “Gray Lady” nurse volunteer at the schools and a charter member of the Burritt Museum Guild. In 1963 the family moved to Germany where Rudolf worked for General Dynamics. That was an exciting time for her as the wife of an aerospace executive. Dorette traveled and entertained extensively and enjoyed a very interesting and wonderful time in Europe in the 1960’s and 70’s.
The family moved back to Huntsville in 1979 when Rudolf retired from General Dynamics. They felt they had come full circle, returning home to spend retirement among their extended family and many friends.
After Rudolf died in 2012, Dorette remained in her home where she enjoyed many fulfilling years until her death May 10, 2021.
Survivors include daughter, Sabina Garrett and husband, Geoff; grandchildren, Ben Garrett, Gabriella Garrett Gibson and husband, Casey; great-grandson, Max Gibson, all of Seattle, Washington; son, Carl Douglas Kersten Schlidt of Huntsville, Alabama; daughter, Gwendolyn Huss and husband, Christian, of Burghausen, Germany; and grandchildren, Andrea Blank and husband, Hermann; and great-grandsons, Benjamin and Tim Blank of Naples, Florida, Alexander Tiltack and wife, Jasmin Widura of Hochburg-Ach, Austria, and Jessica Huss of Berlin, Germany; and daughter, Gabriella Dorette Schlidt of Atlanta, Georgia.
The family extends their heartfelt thanks to many dear neighbors and friends, and especially the Monte Sano Village, who helped make Dorette’s last years enjoyable and enabled her to stay in her own home. Thanks to SouthernCare New Beacon Hospice for their excellent and loving care.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 14th at Monte Sano United Methodist Church. Burial will be private for family only.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Monte Sano Village or Monte Sano Methodist Church.
