Ilse S. Lokting

Lokting, Ilse (Schiff) 84 Sept. 20, 1927 Oct. 27, 2011 Ilse Sigrid Schiff, wife of Robert Stanley Lokting, passed away peacefully Oct. 27, 2011, at age 84. She was surrounded by her devoted husband and five loving children who admire her for many things, not the least of which is her courageous 24-year battle with Parkinson's disease. Ilse was born in Cologne, Germany, to Martin and Friedel (Salm) Schiff. Ilse's young life was privileged and filled with her close-knit family. Her early memories were happy ones of many walks in the city with her parents and brother Kurt, time spent with friends of varied backgrounds and trips to the North Sea for the summer holidays. She would walk two miles from her home with her father to their synagogue during the High Holidays. She attended schools for Jewish students, where scholarly teachers taught her mathematics, physical education, art, biology and the English, German and Hebrew languages at an advanced level. These happy times changed when Hitler came to power. She witnessed first hand the terror of Kristallnacht and the beginning of the Holocaust. Some of her family left Germany, some were imprisoned in concentration camps. At age 11, through Kindertransport, she left her family and boarded a plane to London, where she was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a family and to attend High March School. After a year-and-a-half, she was sent to America, landing in New York City and then finding her way to Walla Walla where she was reunited with her family. They moved to Portland in January 1941. Ilse attended Commerce High School (now Cleveland), and worked at Portland's Farmers Market and for the Oregon Grange. She saved her hard-earned money in order to continue her education. She enrolled at Oregon State College (now Oregon State University) in 1947 where she studied home economics and met many lifelong friends. It was there she also met the love of her life, Bob Lokting, at a "mixer dance" at the Memorial Union. That wonderful evening ended with a Coke and a burger at Dutchie's and began an enduring romance that all who know Ilse and Bob admire. Ilse and Bob married June 11, 1949. Their first home was in Silverton, followed by others in Portland, Hillsboro, Wood Village and King City. All were wonderful, but the years in Hillsboro established it as the family's home town. Ilse and Bob raised their five children there, with memories of good friends and neighbors, schools, holidays, camping trips and the family's Lincoln City cabin. The 62 years Ilse and Bob were married were filled with great joy and commitment. Ilse instilled in her children the importance of hard work, friendship, community service and school. She would get her kids up at 5 a.m. to get them on busses to berry fields during the summer, rose with them each morning to get them to school and was always there to encourage completing homework, finding hobbies and making good friends. Later she taught her granddaughters how to make cookies (She made the best in the world!), knit and crochet. Her life was filled with great joy and accomplishment despite the challenges she faced with Parkinson's disease and breast cancer. Her bravery and strength were matched by the love and encouragement that Bob provided her. Ilse is survived by her husband, Bob; sons, Stan (Marcia Iwasaki), David (Alysia Duckler) and John (Deb); daughters, Carol Myers (Ron) and Karen Lokting Montgomery (David); grandchildren, Leah, Rochelle, Rob, Makoto, Toshi, Britta, Abby and Alex; and great-grandchildren, Madeleine, Caeden, Elliott and Colton. They are each thankful for her love and guidance. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Ilse's name to the Movement Disorder Clinic at OHSU or to the Legacy Hopewell House Hospice. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011, at the chapel of Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home, 5625 N.E. Fremont St., Portland.

Service

Rose City Funeral Home
5625 Northeast Fremont Street
Portland , OR US 97213-1754
Thursday, November 3, 2011, 1:00 PM

Cemetery

Rose City Cemetery
5625 N.E. Fremont St.
Portland , OR US 97213-1754
Thursday, November 3, 2011,

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