Ilse Hunninghaus, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on August 12, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, and devotion to her family.

Ilse was born in Berlin, Germany, on January 18, 1930. She was born into difficult circumstances and it is clear that the hand of the Lord was on her even before she recognized it. She lived with foster and adoptive parents and developed her strength of character from the challenges she faced. After high school she became a secretary, and later worked as an operating room assistant at a local hospital, a job she loved. After marrying Karl Hunninghaus in Germany they emigrated to the United States in 1954 and went on to build a beautiful life filled with faith, family, and friendships. As a young woman, Ilse came to learn of God’s love for her, and to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior…and her faith remained at the center of her life all of her days, right through to the end. After years living in New York and New Jersey, Ilse followed Karl to New Hampshire for his dream to run his own business. Ilse worked tirelessly at the Campground, cleaning the shower houses and pool in the early hours of the morning before anyone else was stirring, and then went on to run the snack bar, gift shop and office all day. She was always a hard worker, and she faithfully served the Lord through her local church and supported many ministries, missionaries and families throughout the years. Ilse was a faithful friend, mentor and prayer warrior. She loved these roles, and cherished being a fill-in mother and grandmother to many. Children flocked to her Sundays at church, where she had a pocketbook full of lollipops and a hug as they anticipated.

In 2012, Ilse was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Karl, with whom she shared more than 60 years of marriage. Together, they built a life dedicated to serving the Lord, loving their family and serving others. It was not uncommon for there to be an extra two to twenty people around the dining room table after church on Sundays: Karl liked to invite, and Ilse was a gracious hostess and wonderful cook.

Ilse loved her family deeply and treasured every opportunity to stay connected with them, even across the miles. When overseas trips to visit were no longer possible, she spent many happy hours FaceTiming with her family in Switzerland, complete with puppet shows for the children, and keeping close relationships with those she loved. She also had a wonderful sense of adventure and was always ready for an outing—especially a ride in her daughter’s convertible on the way to the golf course or the beach. She loved the ocean, all things chocolate, and ice cream was a favorite. Ilse loved to hike, and took walks in the woods despite frequently seeing bears. She didn’t love the snow as much as she loved the ocean, but she even tried her hand at snowshoeing and cross country skiing with friends to pass the New England winters. She also always enjoyed decorating the interior of her home for the seasons, and all who know her can testify to her vast collection of silk flowers. Ilse loved to drive, and her Saab 9000 was one of her favorite cars for its pep and sporty handling, as she did not like to be last in a long line of cars.

Ilse is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Heidi Hunninghaus of Switzerland; her daughter, Christina Hunninghaus of Maine; and her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren: granddaughter Sonja and Jves Zaugg and their children, Annalena, Rebekka; and Lea; grandson Mark and Christina Hunninghaus and their children, Elyah, Liam, and Joshua; and granddaughter Judith and Corsin Spescha and children Andrin and Emilia, all of Switzerland.

Ilse will be remembered for her steadfast faith, her love for her family and friends, her warm and generous spirit and grateful heart, and the joy she found in the simple blessings of life. Her family is grateful for the many years they were blessed to have her, and will miss her unfailing love, big hugs, and constant prayer support. All take comfort in knowing that she is now home with her Savior…Hallelujah. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all who provided love, care, friendship and support over the years, and especially during her final months….this list of all whom she loved and those who loved and served her so well is too long to mention. Ilse leaves a long legacy of those whose lives she has impacted, and the ripple effects will bring glory to God for years to come.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Kinsman Cemetery on August 24 at 2:00pm, with refreshments to follow. (Limited seating will be available, plenty of standing room). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Momentum at the website youthmovement360.org in Ilse’s memory.