Christel Henry

Christel D. Henry, of Seguin, passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at the age of 85. An only child, she was born in Konigsberg, East Prussia on December 26, 1930 to Hermann and Lina Schlompe.
Her mother was a seamstress and father, an accountant. In 1936, she attended the Berlin Olympics with her father. Then came the war and her life was forever changed, no longer a child, her war time duty was to escort the elderly and children to bomb shelters. As the Russians overran East Prussia (circa 1944-1945), she was evacuated with her mother (women and children were priority and the men were left behind), by U-boat to Denmark.

Following the war, her father walked 200 miles to reunite with his family in West Germany in the British Zone. As a refugee, life was difficult, her home was destroyed and she never returned. Later, Christel, met and married Homer E. Henry, an American soldier. Around 1952-1953, she came to America and immediately started the long, arduous process, to become a U. S. Citizen. The test was difficult, but with help from neighbors and her mother-in-law, she studied, "the book." Christel took the test (in English, imagine that), along with a plethora of background checks and passed them all. She was happy to become a U. S. Citizen and to have the opportunity to pursue her dreams. She proudly flew the Stars and Stripes on the appropriate holidays, in her front yard.

Christel arrived in Guadalupe County, Schertz, in 1966 and spent time in Del Rio and Baytown, before returning to Seguin (where she settled and eventually called home for some 25 years). Her goal in life was to get to her destinations without having to depend on others. She enjoyed exercising at the GRMC Wellness Center and taking care of her dogs.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and daughter, Katherine Adkinson of Baytown, TX.

Survivors include her children, Linda Howard of San Antonio, Allan Henry of Seguin and Elke Mangel of Hamburg, Germany.

A Private Inurnment will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, at a later date.

As we say, "good bye," to our mother, we see a woman that made it through WWII, became a refugee, an immigrant and eventually a U. S. Citizen. She saw more combat hours than 50[%] of the people whom claim to have P. T. S. D., and never once placed blame for her circumstances. She was a strong, proud, honest woman that was full of integrity. May she Rest in Peace.

Funeral Services are under the care of Palmer Mortuary & Cremations, located at 1116 N. Austin Street, Seguin, TX 78155; 830.379.9430. Please log on to: www.palmermortuary.com, sign/view the guest book, offer the family condolences and for all of your floral offerings.