Friedel Ransenberg

AIKEN, SC - FRIEDEL FRITZ "FRED" RANSENBERG, 87, died Monday, November 12, 2012 at his step-daughter's residence. A native of Wennemen, Germany, Mr. Ransenberg was the second oldest of six children of Jakob Ransenberg, a decorated sergeant in the German Army during World War I and Matilda Jacob Ransenberg. At the age of 16, Friedel was sent to Auschwitz Concentration Camp and then to Nordhausn and Thuringia camps and the death march to Bergen - Belsen. In April of 1945, Fritz was liberated by the British and returned to his childhood home for several years before moving to Israel in 1948. It was there, he met his first wife and his first daughter was born, and he served in the Israeli Air Force. In the early 1950's Fred immigrated to the United States to join his older brother who had escaped Germany on the Kindertransport. Fritz and his family lived in Millis, MA and he worked for Garelik Dairy Farm. In 1972 he married his second wife, Beverly H. McMahon in East Bridgwater, MA, and then 2 years later they started B & F Contracting Co., who along with his step- son and briefly, his son-in-law, they operated for 23 years. Steven Spielberg, founder of the Shoah Foundation interviewed Fred while he was working to establish the foundation. He is listed on Holocaust Survivors Memorials in Boston, MA and Columbia, SC. The story of his family's life is recorded at the National Holocaust Memorial in Washington, DC, and he was an honored guest at its opening in 1993. He was also interviewed on the History Channel in 1997 following the movie "Holocaust". An avid horseman, in 1992 Fred became involved with Paso Fino Horse Association and bred and showed horses. In 1997, he, along with his wife and step-son moved to Aiken for the warmer climate and named their farm, Rancho de Los Querubes. His step-daughter Susan, joined the family in Aiken in 2004 and in 2007, she purchased the farm. Mr. Ransenberg was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Beverly and his oldest daughter, Illana R. Priest. Survivors include two daughters, Jeanette R. Warner, Dillwyn, VA and Monica R. Plausse, Easton, MA, two granddaughters, Jennie Plausse and Julie McCafferty; step-daughter, Susan A. Sizemore and Step-son, Robert E. McNahon, Jr, both of Aiken; a grandson, Cameron J. Sizemore, Graniteville, SC and a brother, Ralph Ransenberg, Carlsbad, CA. Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Agape Hospice, 301 Silver Bluff Road, Aiken, SC 29803. Please visit the online guestbook at www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com. SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Friedel Ransenberg, please visit our flower store.