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Christel was born in February 23, 1936 in Liegnitz, Germany (former German territory, now Poland) and passed away on January 4th, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. 

She is survived by her brother, Wolfgang Bluemel and his wife Helga, her daughters, Christene and husband Thomas Johnson, Edie Trusty and Susan Ballenger Trusty, her "other daughter" Erika and husband Dexter Raymond and her son, Wayne Trusty.  Christel has three grandchildren, Madison Trusty, Austin and Gavin Johnson as well as extended grandchildren, Josh, Ben, Sara, and Emily Welker.
The memorial service will be held February 21st at the Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church at 10:30am with Fr. Mike Bucciarelli officiating.  February 23rd would have been Christel"s 79th birthday. 
When Christel was a small child in 1945, her mother and brother fled from the Russian troops that were advancing upon their home town of Liegnitz.  Her family missed the train to Dresden in their hurry to escape.  The next train took them to the outskirts of Munich.  The family learned later that intensive bombing by the American and British Air Forces destroyed Dresden and the railways.

Hitler mandated German citizens take in the refugees fleeing from the Polish-German border. Christel"s mother, Margarete Bluemel, worked as a cook and pitched hay on a farm in exchange for room and board above the pig and cow stalls.  The farm family was not happy with the refugee directive.  Life was not easy.
At Christel"s Civil Service retirement party years later, she told the story of how she believed her mother was responsible for ending the war in Germany.  The farming community had learned that American troops were fast approaching and many decided to abandon their farms.  Christel"s mother, "Mutti", instead, encouraged the farm family to welcome the American soldiers.  She made a huge batch of scrambled eggs and bacon.  The American soldiers happily established a base camp, and the rest is history. 
Mutti found an attic space in the heart of Munich.  A girlfriend, also a refugee, provided all the details.  Christel grew up in a small, two room attic space that was retrofitted with a toilet, tiny sink and electricity.  Mutti lived there for almost 50 years. 

When Christel was 17, she secretly applied to be an au pair in England.  She wanted to learn English.  When Mutti found out, instead of being angry, agreed it would be a good experience and approved the passport application as well.  Christel served as an au pair in England and in France for four years.  She returned to Germany with a large French poodle named Bambi and learned to speak two new languages.  The families were kind to her, and her stories about this time of her life were entertaining. 
Christel met her husband, Lowell W. Trusty, in 1958.  She had found employment at the American military base in Munich as a translator.  He was an American Army paratrooper.  He loved Germany.  Their intention was to stay there.  As fate would have it, there was a terrible car accident.  Christel"s legs were crushed.  Almost a year later, the military doctors recommended a transfer to Fort Huachuca, Arizona.  A drier climate would aid in the healing effort.  Unfortunately, the strain of having three little children and the lengthy recovery, ended the marriage.  Christel did not return to Germany as one would expect.  She found a network of German and American friends in Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca that to this day remain close and were pivotal to her personal growth and career.
Her many jobs included being a laundress, selling cosmetics, Bee Line Fashions and Tupperware, a secretary at the first cable company in Sierra Vista, a Saturday morning KTAN djay (German band music), and ultimately, retired after many years as a Civil Service Finance Auditor, GS-12/13.   
Christel worked hard.  Many years were spent working two jobs, going to college and raising her three children.  She took great pride in finally being able to buy a brick house in Hereford in 1975.  Single women at the time were not allowed to buy a house, however, her many friends came to her aid and acted as references.  
Christel was actively involved in many Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca venues.  She was a singer with the Sweet Adelines, involved with Oktoberfest in the Park and dispensed many meals of bratwurst and German potato salad with humorous entertainment ...Mutti played the Duck dance on her harmonica while Christel and her "volunteers" danced in dirndls and lederhosen.  She spearheaded a Christmas Cards to the Soldiers project and most recently was an active member of the Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church.  
In her last few years, Christel enjoyed an active life with her friend Joe Carey.  He is an athlete.  He introduced her to his world of marathons and senior Olympics.  Both enjoyed the area theatrical and musical productions in Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, Tombstone, Bisbee and Tucson.  She was happy in her retirement, loved her home, family and lifelong friends.

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Christel Trusty Obituary | Altogether