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Meryl King

Beacon Correspondent

Christa Lyons was blessed with parents she could love and admire. Last Saturday, on Sept. 19, she and a group of people demonstrated that respect with the dedication a redwood grove, the Dr. Kurt and Hilde Munchheimer Memorial Grove, near Redcrest.

Although the grove is not marked on the Avenue of the Giants, people can walk to it. It is just south of the old mill in Redcrest. A silver piped gate is a barrier to cars, but walkers can find the grove about a mile back on the old road.

The ceremony opened with several Native American dances and stories, including a Raven Dance, performed by Earl Huitt. Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director of the Save-the-Redwoods League told of the history of memorial groves, and Richard Bergstresser, the Park Ranger of Humboldt Redwoods State Park, told of the history of the redwoods.

Dr. and Mrs. Munchheimer's lives were dedicated to service, both to people and to the environment. Christa, who was known as Helga to classmates at Fortuna High School, talked of her father's support for the parks, his vocal opposition to a four lane freeway being created where the Avenue of the Giants is now, and of his support for the Redwood National Park.

”These weren't popular stands to take in Humboldt County between 1950s, 60s and 70s,” she said. Many of her classmates at Fortuna High School would have discussions with her about her father's misguided opinions. Christa graduated in 1963.

Kurt was a doctor in Rio Dell for many years and there are many fond stories of him doing such deeds as delivering babies and removing splinters. He served as a pastor in a church in Shively for many years, and was instrumental in starting the Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer in Fortuna.

In a piece created for the dedication, entitled “Celebration of the Lives of Dr. Kurt and Mrs. Hilde Munchheimer,” Christa gives details of their lives which were much less comfortable and more varied than the life they knew in Humboldt County. Their marriage, Christa says, “created a tapestry rich in adventure, overcoming adversity, and giving to others less fortunate than they.”

Shortly after they were married, in 1938, they fled their homeland, Germany, to escape Nazi oppression. They went to Nigeria, where Kurt served as the managing doctor of a leper colony.

In 1940 they were arrested by the British because they were German nationals. They and their son, Peter, who was born in Nigeria, spent the war in an internment camp in Kingston, Jamaica. They lost a second son, who was born in the camp, because of the lack of medical facilities.

Helga Christa, known now as Christa, was born in the camp. During the war, Kurt's father was killed at Auschwitz. After their release in 1946, it was difficult to find a country that would allow them to immigrate.

While they were waiting, Kurt served as a Presbyterian minister for several small country churches. He rode a horse between the churches, a horse named “Red Light” due to his frequent stops to help people in need. Their third son, Walter, was born at this time.

In 1948, the family was sponsored by a Presbyterian college in Bloomfield, New Jersey. There, Kurt served on the faculty and was eventually ordained a Presbyterian minister.

Then in 1953, the family moved to Rio Dell. In addition to his medical practice, he worked to save the redwoods. He was also the second mayor of Rio Dell, following its incorporation.

His retirement in 1977 was the start of a new adventure for the Munchheimers. Four weeks after he retired, they left for Cameron, where he worked in a Presbyterian hospital. They remained there until 1979 when poor health forced them to return home.

Until his passing in 1981, Kurt worked as a medical doctor on various Indian reservations. Hilde finally moved to live near her daughter, Christa. They considered Humboldt County their home and are buried in Fortuna at Sunrise Cemetery.

photos by Meryl King/Beacon

1. Christa Lyons speaking at the ceremony with a group of Native Americans, Earl Huitt, speaker and dancer, is on the right.  

2. Earl Huitt in the Raven Dance.