Katharina Diener Sullivan

Jun 28, 1927 -

Jan 20, 2020

Katharina Diener Sullivan of Eagle River, Alaska, passed away on Jan. 20, 2020. She was born in Grasenjahr, Russia, on June 28, 1927, to a family of ethnic Germans who colonized and lived along the Volga River in the southeastern region of European Russia. The family's farm holdings were seized during the Russian Revolution (1917-23) and they were sent to a Siberian work camp. The family escaped and made their way toward Europe by working in rural collectives. Katie's mother, Maria, knew five languages and had an ear for what was being said about the new workers in the community. When it appeared they might be caught, the family would leave under cover of night with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

During World War II, after the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the danger to Katie's family grew even more perilous. The Soviet government deported all Volga Germans considering them potential collaborators. Katie and her family wound up in a camp in Poland; one photo shows the family in a railcar. A cousin died in the camp. At one point an SS officer threw Katie's younger brother off a swinging bridge. Henry survived but Katie was forever after afraid of heights. The family made their way to Germany in 1943 with a desire to immigrate to the United States. Katie's father, Jakob, declared that no one was to meet or marry in Germany; they would leave no one behind when the family went to America. In 1948, Katie came to the United States, the bride of a U.S. soldier. The rest of her family came to Michigan in 1951. The entire family knew how to work, and each went on to become successful in their careers.

Katie was positive, independent and hard-working. Katie lived in Enid, Okla., Honolulu, Hawaii, and Great Falls, Mont., before settling in Alaska. She loved to dance and sew and cook. She loved sharing family recipes. She was a longtime member of Joy Lutheran Church in Eagle River.

Katie is survived by her sister, Lydia (Diener) Grossi; children, Linda (Sullivan) Wilson, Charles (Bill) Sullivan and James Sullivan; grandchildren, Corina (Sullivan) Johnston, Cole Sullivan, Clayton Sullivan, Matthew, Travis and Trevor Wilson; and great-grandchildren, Cadence Johnston, Kinley Wilson, Wyatt Sullivan, Brittyn, Hollyn and Brayden Sullivan.

She is preceded in death by her father, Jakob Diener; mother, Maria Steigerwaldt Diener; siblings, Hilda (Diener) Johnston, Emma (Diener) Schatz and Henry Diener; grandsons, Clifton Lee Sullivan and Charles William Sullivan; and nephews, Ron Schatz and George Johnston.