Dr. Gerhard H.R. Reisig

Dr. Gerhard H. R. Reisig passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at the home of his daughter, in Moorhead, MN.Born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1910, Dr. Reisig attended the Nikolaischule there through high school. He received his engineering degree from the Technical University in Dresden, Germany, and later earned his doctorate in engineering from the University of Braunschweig, Germany.After working for the Siemens Company in Berlin for several years, he joined the Wernher von Braun rocket team in Peenemuende, Germany. In 1946, he moved with the team to El Paso, Texas, and in 1951, to Huntsville, Alabama. He remained with the team until his retirement, working early on at the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, and later, at Marshall Space Flight Center. Soon after retirement, he taught for a year at Concordia College, Moorhead, as a visiting professor of physics; he continued working on various projects and authored a comprehensive history of rocket technology. Until the last several years, he regularly participated in space-related meetings and gave lectures. Thus, he maintained contact with scientists in many countries, and found joy and fulfillment in encouraging young scientists.Dr. Reisig was an avid musician from his school days on. He played the violin and viola, participating in school and university orchestras. In Huntsville, he played in chamber music groups, and developed many close friendships along the way. With Mr. Alvin Dreger, he founded the Huntsville Chamber Music Guild.Dr. Reisig married Gisela Haenichen in 1937. Their shared love of music provided a deep bond and lifelong enjoyment. Mrs. Reisig preceded him in death. The Reisigs are survived by two daughters, Ms. Gerlinda Talbot, Huntsville, and Dr. Godela Iverson Dr. Stanley, Moorhead; three grandchildren, Jamie Talbot Dawn, Cairo, GA, Andrea Greiff Eric, Moorhead, and Margaret Iverson, Washington, DC; and one great-grandchild, Caroline Talbot.