Obituary for Hans Schoser

In tiefer Trauer nimmt die Stadt Trochtelfingen Abschied von Johannes Martin Schoser, der am 20. Januar, im Alter von 92 Jahren, verstorben ist.

Schoser war über 37 Jahre als Mitglied des Gemeinderates, davon viele als Erster Stellvertreter des Bürgermeisters, der Stadt Trochtelfingen kommunalpolitisch engagiert. In dieser Zeit ist neben der Umsetzung der Gemeindeverwaltungsreform insbesondere die Sanierung des historischen Stadtkerns ein zentrales Anliegen von Johannes Martin Schoser gewesen.

Zeit seines Lebens war er, aus innerer Verantwortung und tiefer Verbundenheit zu seiner Heimatgemeinde heraus, mit dem Wohl der Stadt Trochtelfingen verbunden, teilt Bürgermeister Christof Niesler mit. Neben seiner Kommunalpolitischen Arbeit war er weit über das normale Maß hinaus ehrenamtlich engagiert. Unter anderem war er maßgeblich an der Wiedergründung der Historischen Bürgerwehr der Stadt Trochtelfingen engagiert.

Hans (left) with his parents Gustav and Maria,
his elder brother Gustav (jun.) and his younger brother Franz
and his sister Mechtild at her First Communion

Ebenso war er zweiter und später Erster Vorsitzender der Stadtkapelle Trochtelfingen und Gründer des Trochtelfinger Geschichts- und Heimatvereins und hat bei letzterem wesentlich zur Überarbeitung der Stadtchronik beigetragen.

Darüber hinaus hat er als Geschäftsmann mit seinem Unternehmen erheblich dazu beigetragen, Trochtelfingen als Einkaufsstadt bekannter zu machen. 1989 wurde er mit dem Bundesverdienstkreuz und der Bürgermedaille der Stadt Trochtelfingen ausgezeichnet. Im Jahr 2004 wurde er zum Ehrenbürger der Stadt Trochtelfingen ernannt.

Erschienen in swp.de am 23. Januar 2019

90th birthday

Hans with his wife and younger brother in 1993

On 21 April 2016, Hans Schoser will turn 90. To our knowledge, this makes him the oldest living Schoser. This unique event will be celebrated correspondingly. On the day, the birthday party will take place in Trochtelfingen's largest festival hall Graf Werdenberghalle. As Hans is honorary citizen of Trochtelfingen, the festivities will gather the who is who of Trochtelfingen including the numerous members of Trochtelfingen's historic town guards, a club that Hans founded in 1957.

Obituary for Hildegard Schoser

Hildegard Schoser (Stapf) of Trochtelfingen died on Saturday, 8 December 2012 in Tettnang hospital. She was 82. Hildegard was born on 21 April 1930, in Frankfurt-Höchst, the second child of Theodor and Anna Stapf. Her father owned a household supply shop in Hofheim where she helped out from an early age. Later, she worked in the clothing boutique of her husband in Trochtelfingen.

Hildegard married Hans Schoser on 13 August 1956. They had five sons. Hildegard is remembered by her family for her good sense of humor, her active involvement in several associations namely the women's association of the historical trainband and in carnival activities. For most of the past 16 years, she took care of her husband Hans confined to a wheelchair after a stroke.

Hildegard was preceded in death by her brother Theo. She is survived by her sister Cecilia, her husband Hans, their five sons Norbert, Bernhard, Georg, Michael and Joachim, their wifes and eight grand-children. A memorial service took place in St Martin in Trochtelfingen on 13 December 2012.

POW

Hans (r.) at work in the quarry

Johannes 'Hans' Schoser joined the German army in March 1944 at the age of just under 18. He was trained as radio operator. His war time duty ended six months later when he was taken prisoner by American troups at the Western Front in France in September 1944. The Americans handed him over to British troups which transferred him to Scotland as prisoner of war (POW).

For three years, Hans was detained in the German Working Camp No. 188 at Johnstone Castle near Glasgow. He worked there first on the construction of a sewer system for a new housing development, then in a quarry and later as office clerk and interpreter. Finally, Hans moved to camp No. 174 to follow studies to become catholic youth leader.

In 1948, Hans was allowed to return home to Germany.

Magic potion

The year is 1948 AD, and all Germany lies in ruins and is occupied by foreign troops. Only one small village of indomitable Swabians holds out against the post-war depression. 

But what can the villagers do to overcome the depression and revive their village? Anything is possible, with a little cunning plus the butchers' oxblood! Its effects can be truly historic ...

This is the beginning of the tale of the remote small town of Trochtelfingen which since then has converted into a gem of the Swabian Alb not least thanks to the initiative of the three Schoser brothers Gustav, Hans and Franz. (See also under 'Gallery'.)

Mechtild Wagner (Schoser)

Mechtild Wagner (Schoser) of Trochtelfingen died on Good Friday, 10 April 2009 at her home. She was 78. Mrs Wagner was born on Easter Sunday, 17 April 1930, in Trochtelfingen, the third child of Gustav sen. and Maria Schoser. She was an apprentice in clothing boutiques in the towns of Singen and Freiburg. Later, she worked in the clothing boutique of her parents in Trochtelfingen. She married Hermann Wagner in 1969. The two moved to Bad Schussenried in 1979 where they ran a clothing boutique of their own. In 1989, they retired and returned to Trochtelfingen. 

The Wagners had no children. Mrs Wagner was preceded in death by her husband in 1999. Mrs Wagner is remembered by her family for her good sense of humor, her love for traveling and gardening. Mrs Wagner is survived by her brothers Gustav Jr., Hans and Franz and their spouses. She also is survived by her nine nephews, four nieces and their families. A memorial service took place in St Martin in Trochtelfingen on 15 April 2009.

Decorations

The 'Ring of Roses'

Schosers have been awarded with diverse orders and prizes. In 1994, Gustav was awarded the 'ring of roses' of the city of Nauheim. The ring is awarded every second year and is meant to acknowledge a personality's merit for his/her work on roses.

Ten years later, Gustav's younger brother Johannes Martin (Hans) was named honorary citizen of his home town Trochtelfingen. The laudation explained in simple but convincing terms that 'Johannes Martin is a part of Trochtelfingen'. (For more details see GEA and SZ.)

Order of Merit of Germany

In 1989, Johannes had already been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This honour was conferred upon his elder brother Gustav in 1991 and upon his younger brother Franz in 1992. In the case of Franz, the Order was meant to acknowledge in particular his contribution to international understanding, notably between Germany and France, which also earned him the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur.

While we can be proud of counting these highly decorated Schosers among us, we are still hoping to discover a Schoser winning a singing or beauty contest even if it isn't Miss World or Mister Universe... Please report!

P.S. Additional research has unearthed that indeed, Hans was Prince Carnival in his native Trochtelfingen in 1953 (!), surely the cornerstone of his later honors.

The chronicler

Stadtchronist wird erster Trochtelfinger Ehrenbürger

Johannes Martin Schoser erhielt im Juli von Trochtelfingens Bürgermeister Friedrich Bisinger die Ehrenbürgerwürde der Stadt verliehen. Für sein vielfältiges Engagement für die Stadt, ihre Geschichte und das Vereinsleben wurde ihm damit als erster Trochtelfinger diese Ehre zuteil.