Blondine Johanna Forster

     Blondine Johanna Forster, daughter of Johann Georg Forster and Katharina Hilpert, was born on 14 June 1902 at Bubenhausen, Rheinpfalz, Bayern, German Empire.^4,6 She was usually called Blondel.⁷

The family then moved to Bielefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen where her father worked for the Anker-Werke Sewing Machine Company.^6,8

When their father was to be transferred to the Anker-Werke sewing machine factory in Czechoslovakia, their mother, Katharina, went on ahead with the children, only to return to Germany six months later when they were expelled due to the Benesch Regime.^8,6

Blondel was interested in literature and thought about studying art. She also enjoyed hiking as well as biblical studies.

After earning her qualification for university entrance and completing business school, she got a job as secretary in the Bielefelder Reichsbank.⁹

It was a life changing day for Blondel when she met Mrs. Kisker, who was returning to South West Africa. She couldn't resist agreeing to a job as au-pair and experiencing Africa! Ship passage was all arranged before Blondel toward her parents about her plans.

Blondel boarded the SS Adolf Woermann with 3rd class accommodation in Hamburg on 9 March 1927 bound for Walvisbaii, South West Africa.

It was at the Kisker home that Blondel met her future husband Ernst Ludwig Cramer.^10,1,11 They were engaged on 13 October 1927.¹²

Blondine married Ernst-Ludwig Cramer, son of Ludwig Paul Cramer and Julie Mathilde Adelheid Cramer, on 22 January 1928 at Windhoek, South West Africa.

They lived on the Rogers Ranch near Steinhausen in the Gobabis District. Life were difficult at the beginning. The ranch was still vacant land, so a house needed to be built first. They formed and fired the adobe blocks themselves, which was a huge amount of work. Other building material, such as wood, corrugated iron sheeting, windows and doors, was procured by ox-wagon from Windhoek.^2,4

Like most of the ranch children in South West Africa, their five children went to boarding school in Windhoek at the German Higher Private School. As for any mother, it was difficult not seeing her children for such long periods of time. Because someone always needed to stay on the ranch, she did not go to Windhoek for seven years and was very isolated.⁵

Ernst-Ludwig became sick with brucellosis. Since the local doctors could not help him, in May 1939 he traveled by ship to Germany for treatment in the Hamburger Tropeninstitut. When the War began, he wasn't able to return to his family. He was drafted by the German military, but because of his illness he was unable to serve as a soldier in the field. He therefore became a lathe operator in a machine factory. After 1940, Blondel received no more letters. She was alone on the ranch with her workers, many miles from the nearest neighbor.^4,8,13,5

Their son, Helmut, was in boarding school when he started having terrible abdominal pain. He was hiding in a bush when his sister Doris found him. She told the matron but she didn't take his pain seriously. His Aunt Hildegard happened to come to Windhoek at this time. She took him straight to the doctor, who did an emergency operation. Unfortunately, his appendix had already burst. Helmut suffered for another three weeks, when he died on 4 October 1939 at Windhoek.^14,4,15

One evening in 1946 after dinner at the boarding school, the matron took a group of students for a walk. Nine of the students, including Dietrich, died when a drunk truck driver plowed into them.^4,16,17

Even though earlier times were often difficult, Blondel was still able to spend many happy years on Rogers Ranch. Günther was an excellent rancher and the business thrived. Blondel had many grandchildren and was able to look back on a successful life.

Blondine died peacefully on 22 December 1996 at Windhoek at age 94 years, 6 months and 8 days.^18,4 The funeral was held on 27 December 1996 in the Neuen Friedhofkapelle, Windhoek. The officiating pastor was Pastor Bobka.³