Dr. Caroline Stockhammer, Ph.D.

Internment of Ashes Ceremony and Memorial services for Dr. Caroline Stockhammer, Ph.D., 92, Lawrence will be postponed, to be announced until a later date. She passed away Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka, KS.

Caroline was born October 20, 1925 in Bremen, Germany, the daughter of Hermann Rudolf and Theodore Marie (Brügmann) Brickenstein.

She published her Doctoral Thesis at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities of Munich, and received her Doctorate degree at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, summa cum laude, in the field of Zoology.

She married Karl A. Stockhammer on March 27, 1956 in Winterberg-Westphalia, Germany. He preceded her in death July 21, 2001.

Caroline was born in Bremen Germany and had her childhood there as well as in Winterberg-Westphalia, Germany. She met her husband Karl during studies in Munich and elsewhere in post-WWII Germany. They made for a striking couple; both had worked closely with Nobel Prize-winning Scientists Karl Von Frisch and Konrad Lorenz and as a couple shared a deep reverence and respect for Nature, a life-long love and devotion to one another as well as to their three children. Caroline crossed the ocean on the Queen Elizabeth II with her first two children in tow, to safely land in New York, NY, then to proceeded on to Lawrence, Kansas to join her husband as he started his teaching career of 33 years initiated by the Fulbright Scholar Exchange Program at the University of Kansas. Caroline was an extraordinary wife and mother, an accomplished Research Scientist, avid gardener, and artisan: Watercolor painting, Sewing, Cooking and Baking, needle arts including Intarsia, Fair Isle and Stranded Knitting, Crewel Embroidery, Counted Cross Stitch and Loom Beading-all these were included in the list of her many talents and pursuits, executed with great joy and thoughtfulness. Survivors include her children: Elisabeth Ballou, Topeka, Kurt Stockhammer, Lawrence, Christine Stockhammer (Karl Miller), Fair Oaks CA, former son-in-law Tom Ballou, Eskridge and former daughter in-law Lori Phillips, Lawrence; four loving grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews; three brothers, Rudolf Brickenstein, Wolf Brickenstein, and Hans Joachim Brickenstein (Germany.) She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Wilhelm and Peter Brickenstein (Germany.)

Memorial Contributions may be made in her name to: Lawrence Humane Society, Haskell University Women’s Association, KU Department of Zoology, KU Department of Entomology, and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

5 Condolences

  1. TracyDethloff on December 27, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    Sorry to hear of the passing of Caroline. My thoughts and prayers go out my friend Kurt and his sisters. Tracy Dethloff



  2. Jerry Nossaman on December 28, 2017 at 6:04 pm

    Kiki. So sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. I remember with a smile the many times she would ride her bicycle from her home to downtown, an amazing woman, and quite obviously an amazing mother.
    Jerry Nossaman



  3. Gary Crowe on December 29, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    Liz and Kurt I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
    Gary Crowe



  4. Doug Byers on January 8, 2018 at 10:20 am

    Dear Liz, Kurt, and Kiki. My condolences on the loss of your mom. The Stockhammers were a fixture in the old neighborhood, something I’ll always remember growing up. I’ll never forget the joy in her eyes every time I saw her riding her bike down Princeton Blvd. Find comfort in your memories.



  5. Michelle Lechtenberg Mailand on February 8, 2018 at 10:21 am

    Kiki, Kurt & Liz,

    I’m so very sorry to read of your Mother’s passing. What an a beautiful woman and incredible legacy she leaves in her amazing children. I remember her as a very stern, yet loving figure from my grade school years. May you all share many happy memories and peace to all of you.

    Michelle Lechtenberg Mailand



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