- Date Of Birth: September 23, 1925
- Date Of Death: October 7, 2015
- State: Colorado
Hildegard Magarethe (Greve) Ventker was born on September 23, 1925, in Schwei, Germany, to Luepkea and Hermann Greve. She passed away on October 7, 2015, in Canon City, Colorado. Hilda graduated from school in Schwei and then learned the floral trade as a designer in her father’s floral business. On April 8, 1944, she married Herbert R. Ventker. They immigrated with their son Rolf to the United States in 1954, arriving by boat in Hoboken, New Jersey. The family settled in German Valley, Illinois, and worked on farms until they learned English. In the spring of 1958, Hilda and her family moved to Fort Morgan, Colorado, to manage Morgan Floral. In the fall of 1958, Hilda and Herbert bought Canon Floral Company in Canon City, which they owned until 1988. Hilda was an exceptional floral designer, and she truly loved her work. After her retirement, Hilda enjoyed her family, especially her granddaughters, her friends, taking care of her home and yard, needlework, and all things German. Hildegard was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Hermann and his wife, Hildegard; her former husband, Herbert; her brother-in-law, Alfred Ventker; and her cousin, Bonita Greve. She is survived by her son, Rolf (Sharon) Ventker; granddaughter, Julia (Alpha) Ouattara and their sons, Amidou, Adam, and Abraham; granddaughter, Jennifer Ventker; niece, Sonja, and nephew, Frank in Germany; sister-in-law, Marianne Ventker; and nieces and nephew, Suzanne, Antje, and Stephan in Germany; and very special cousins, Barbara Vietmeier, Rosalie Schoonhoven, and Juliet Asche and their extended families in Illinois.
