Manfred A. Poitzsch

Manfred Albert Guido Poitzsch was born in Neukirchen/Pleisse, Germany, in 1930 and passed away in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on February 15, 2025. He was the son of Max and Else Poitzsch and had a younger sister, Christine.

Manfred graduated from high school in Crimmitschau, Germany, in 1949. He became an apprentice for the book trade in Leipzig, Germany, and graduated there in 1952, then left East Germany that year to study Germanistik and Romanistik at the Free University in West Berlin, where he graduated with M.A. and M.E. degrees in 1958 and 1961, respectively.  He taught German, French, and English at various West Berlin schools during that time. In 1958-59, he taught German at a Lycée in Montpellier, France, where he met his future wife, Margaret, who was studying on a Fulbright scholarship at the Faculté de Théologie during the same year. They were married in 1960 in West Berlin, Germany.

Manfred emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1961 and became a U.S. citizen in 1973. He taught German and French at Mankato State College (1961-64) and at UW-Eau Claire from 1964 until his retirement as professor in 1996.

In 1968, he received a Ph.D. in German from the University of Minnesota. His scholarly interests and writings involved the European literature of the Ages of Goethe and Voltaire, and U.S. Foreign Language Education. With his family, he was active in the First Presbyterian Churches in Mankato and in Eau Claire, in their choirs and in Sunday schools. He enjoyed the outdoors and playing chess and cards with his sons and his friends. He was also interested in model railroads and loved to build structures for them. He enjoyed visiting with all his neighbors.

Manfred is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, his parents, and his younger sister, Christine. He is survived by his two sons, Martin and Walter, and their wives, Sima and Juliette, and three grandsons, Nima, Alec, and Joseph. Manfred was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and an enthusiastic teacher; he will be greatly missed.

Funeral service for Manfred will take place at 11 am on Monday, February 24, 2025 at Hulke Family Funeral Home with Pastor Debra Boynton officiating.  Visitation will take place at the funeral home on that day from 10 am until the time of service.  Burial will take place in the Lakeview Cemetery in Eau Claire immediately following the service.  

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of the U.S.A. Friends and family may offer condolences online at www.hulkefamilyfh.com.

Hulke Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services is assisting the family with the arrangements.  

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