Dr. Wilma Iggers (nee Abeles)
March 23, 1921 - February 24, 2025
Wilma Abeles Iggers, an accomplished scholar of German literature and an ardent advocate for civil rights, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2025 at the age of 103.
Wilma was born March 23, 1921 in the village of Miřkov, Czechoslovakia. The first of two children born to Karl and Elsa Abeles, Wilma’s childhood instilled in her a love of the Bohemian countryside. She passed hours in the large garden abutting her family home, the details of which she could vividly call to memory until her last days.
From the outset, Wilma emulated both her father Karl (a larger-than-life man who she adored deeply and who quickly won the affections of all those with whom he crossed paths) and her mother Elsa (an ambitious and exacting woman who impressed on Wilma and her sister Marianne the importance of education).
Wilma and her family fled the threat of the Nazis in 1938, immigrating from Czechoslovakia to Canada as part of a group of 39 Czech-Jewish extended family members led by her father. Together, the group settled in the Brantford area of Ontario, where they continued the tradition of farming that had been central to their lives in Czechoslovakia.
Wilma’s academic journey began at McMaster University, where she earned her bachelor's degree. Her studies continued at the University of Chicago, where she earned a PhD. This was also where she met Georg Iggers. They married in 1948, and for the decades that followed, Wilma built a life and career with and alongside Georg, each becoming a distinguished professor in their respective fields of study. Wilma was particularly known for her expertise in the history and culture of Jews in Central Europe.
Wilma and Georg had three sons together: Jeremy, Dan, and Karl Jonathan. Struck by the parallels between anti-Black racism in America and the persecution they faced as Jews in their homelands, they devoted themselves to challenging the systemic racism that plagued the United States. Their early careers in academia and activism brought them to live and raise their family in multiple places in the American south, including Little Rock, Arkansas and New Orleans, Louisiana where they taught at historically Black colleges and universities and were active in the civil rights movement. Their careers in the 1950s and 60s also brought them to Chicago, France and Germany, before eventually settling in Buffalo, New York.
Wilma was gifted at building connections. She was genuinely curious about the minutiae of daily life for the people around her, and this curiosity fueled her to forge deep connections with others. Until her final days, she had regular calls and visits from family, friends, and former students with whom she had built lasting and meaningful friendships. She maintained email and letter correspondences with friends around the world in English, German and Czech, only slowing down in her final weeks. In addition to her friendships, Wilma found joy in various hobbies, including reading, knitting, and in younger days, foraging for mushrooms (in Czech: na houby).
Wilma’s gift for building connections also permeated her scholarship. One of her most important works, The Jews of Bohemia and Moravia, shed light on the Jewish experience in Central Europe and showcased her ability to bridge cultural and historical divides. Wilma’s scholarship earned her the admiration of both academic peers and public figures alike. In recognition of her work, Wilma was awarded an honorary citizenship in her hometown of Horšovský Týn, and in 2004, the Czech Foreign Ministry presented her with the “Gratias Agit” award, a high honor given to foreign nationals who contribute to the promotion of Czech culture abroad.
Throughout her life, Wilma Iggers remained an unwavering advocate for human rights, equality, and the pursuit of knowledge. Her life was a testament to the power of education, activism, and the importance of standing up for justice. She will be remembered as a pioneering figure who shaped both the academic world and the struggle for civil rights in America.
Wilma will live on in the hearts of her remaining family, including sons Jeremy (Carol), Daniel (Janet), and Karl Jonathan; grandchildren Sarah (Phil), Kelly (Eric), Adam (Stephanie), and Micha; and great-grandchildren Kyra, Ivy, Mabel, Theodore and Scarlett; as well as in the hearts of many other beloved relatives and friends. Gratitude goes out to committed friends Denise McCoy and Bill VanStone, who were great supporters through her final days.
A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday 12 noon at MESNEKOFF FUNERAL HOME, 8630 Transit Rd., E. Amherst, NY 14051. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Philander Smith University or a charity of one’s choice. Share condolences and view livestream at mesnekoff.com