Norwich, Vermont

Edgar Bothe passed away on 12/16/2017 due to complications from metastatic lung cancer. He was at home surrounded by his family.

Born January 21, 1942 in Vienna, Austria, to Edgar Bothe and Isabella Maria Stork, Edgar remained a proud Austrian citizen his entire life. When his father did not return from fighting on the Russian front in World War II, his mother remained in Vienna for a few years before she returned to her native Netherlands with him, his sister, and brother. Edgar grew up dividing his time between the Netherlands and Austria. Early in life he became fascinated with baking, particularly pastries, which turned into a career and love for the years ahead.

As a young man he came to the United States, and with a $69 Greyhound ticket, traveled and explored much of the country. After living in Omaha, NE for a few years, he eventually settled in Atlanta, GA, where he ran a bakery and met the love of his life, Christine. They married in June 1980 and had two daughters. A growing knowledge and talent for baking brought Edgar into selling bakery equipment and ingredients to professionals, leading him and his family first to Princeton, NJ then to Norwich, VT where they settled in the spring of 1989.

Edgar's passion and talent for home renovations led him to transform the family's traditional cape home to a European-style home, complete with Delft-blue tilework in the kitchen and a grand Austrian-inspired fireplace. Later in life, Edgar also devoted time to translating the letters his parents had exchanged during the war, a project that took him to Latvia in search of his father's missing grave.

Edgar's greatest joys were to be found in raising his daughters, baking exquisite tarts, cakes, pies and other treats for those he loved, and working on his home in Norwich. He will also be remembered for his humor, his sharp wit, and his signature hug that made people feel special and welcome. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Christine, daughters Madeleine (and Edward Felstead) and Charlotte (and Peter Rutledge), and a granddaughter, Sophie from Norwich, VT. Also surviving him are sister Madi Wesselius and brother Robert Bothe, both of the Netherlands, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was looking forward to meeting his next grandchild in January, but his illness progressed more rapidly than expected. At his wishes, there will be no memorial services. The family will hold a private gathering at home.