August "Gus" Borkowitz

Obituary Gus shared memories and stories throughout his life. The following encompasses some of the highlights in his own words: When I was born on the 3rd of March 1930, in Mohrungen, East Prussia, Germany, my father, August Bruno Borkowitz, promptly named me after him, which was customary in his family. My mother, Helene, never quite agreed and always called me: Gusti. Mohrungen, with a population of 5000, was surrounded by several lakes, large woods, small streams and meadows. It was probably here that I developed distaste for large cities. Up until then the war was comparatively far away. In the fall of 1944, things changed rapidly. I was sent into Poland to help build fortifications against an eminent Russian attack on East Prussia. This attack came before we were finished, having escaped without bodily harm, marched back to Germany to build more defense lines in several parts of East Prussia and around our hometown. The Russian army's success of capturing East Prussia came virtually overnight, and when my mother and I fled from our home in January 1945, we were able to take only some money and a few bags of clothing. Through the cold winter we trekked west by train, trucks, foot and by ship. May 1945, the war was over and we finally landed in Kiel, occupied by the British armies. Schools did not start for a year, so I had to take a job with a construction company in order to qualify for food rationing cards, taking down war damaged buildings and clearing streets of rubbish. Towards the end of 1945, about 3 months shy of my 16th birthday, we moved to Munich, Bavaria, where living quarters and food where easier to find. I started out as an apprentice with a well-known insurance company as we could not afford to let me attend one of the newly opened high schools. Shortly thereafter, an acquaintance convinced us to leave the refugee camp and move to Ansbach, where job opportunities were better. Once there I found a job with a junk dealer who worked with U.S. occupation forces. Working with the U.S. servicemen, mostly GIs from the brig under MP guard, I was able to improve my English. Looking back, this event helped me acquire better employment that eventually made my move possible to the United States. It is a little ironic that in the beginning of my career I would work in a junk yard, improve my ability to speak a foreign language, eventually moving to a country that speaks this language and then end my career working in a scrap yard. Certainly that was not on my mind then as we were still in survival mode. In the fall of 1947 I started work as a clerk typist for the European Exchange System's central supply depot. During the next few years, I met some great people, Reimar and Merse von Kalben and of course their sister, my future wife, Dagmar. I also made friends with an American from Pueblo: Bill Hamlin, who offered to help me emigrate to the US. By then, my mother received a government pension and was able to exist on her own. My future was uncertain, the Soviets claimed Poland and East Prussia so there was no chance returning home to Mohrungen. The job opportunities in Germany were not promising, so at the age of 21, I made the decision to start my new life in Pueblo, CO. Arriving in Pueblo, CO in December 1951, I was encouraged to apply for a job at CF&I Steel as a drillman in the laboratory. Soon I was transferred to a scheduling office as typist, but before I could make any further plans was drafted into the US Army in June 1952. After being granted citizenship and honorably discharged at the rank of staff Sergeant in June 1954, I returned to work at CF&I Steel. Missing my girlfriend, Dagmar, my friends, Brad and Perta Hamlin, once again helped me by sponsoring her emigration to the United States. We were married in November 1954. In 1957 we became parents with our daughter Ingrid. Here she would be to be able to grow up in a free environment, without the influence of the totalitarian regime felled in 1945 or the equally ruthless ideology that threatens Europe today. In January 1957, I went to night school at Pueblo Junior College, graduating in May 1960. With my degree I was promoted to an Industrial Engineer. Later, I became a Buyer in the Purchasing Department, retiring in 1993 as President of the Metals Companies / Director Raw Materials, yes, managing scrap yards. My career now over, we stayed in Pueblo for another nine years. While in Pueblo I enjoyed many volunteer opportunities with the Girl Scouts, Pueblo German Club, served as Church Deacon and loved playing volleyball and dancing. Fishing always brought me solitude and especially loved to river fish in Taylor Park near Gunnison, CO. From my early days in Pueblo, I learned to build cabinets, repair drywall and miscellaneous home projects and it seemed the family enjoyed my drawings and used them in family books. But most importantly in Pueblo I learned and experienced first hand the American dream and have always been thankful to have become an American citizen. In 2002, after 50 years in Pueblo, we decided to leave our many, many dear friends and family there to move to Fort Collins, CO to be closer to our daughter Ingrid Mitts, her husband Jim and our three wonderful grandchildren. All three grandchildren graduated from TCU in Fort Worth, TX and make us very proud. In 2011, our son Bernie joined us in Fort Collins once again reuniting the family we began in 1954. As he has finished his final chapter on earth, he leaves behind his cherished wife and best friend of 70 years, Dagmar. His beloved family includes son Bernard Borkowitz, daughter Ingrid (Jim) Mitts, all in the Fort Collins area, and his grandchildren, Kyle (Carol) Mitts of New York City with Gus's first great grand daughter on the way, Ryan Mitts of Dallas, and Kenzie Mitts (fiance Devin Reich) of Fort Worth, who will be married in August. He will be forever missed and his wonderful sense of humor and humble attitude will always be a cherished memory for his family. As Gus always said with a smile: "That will be 25 cents". Rest in peace sweet, sweet Gus. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins. SERVICES Memorial Service Tuesday, April 18, 2017 1:00 PM First Presbyterian Church 531 S. College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 Read More Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of August "Gus" Borkowitz