GILFORD ---- Gisela Ilse Alex Langsten, 92, died peacefully on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Forestview Manor in Meredith, NH.
Gisela was born on February 8, 1932, in Berlin, Germany, the daughter of Gustav and Ilse (Neumann) Alex.
She studied art and fashion design at the Hauptschule für Mode in Hamburg, Germany and emigrated to the USA in 1953. Gisela first settled in Chicago, where she married Armin Langsten who she had met as members of the Seglerverein Trave, a sailing yacht club in Luebeck, Germany. While living in Chicago she was employed as a commercial artist and fashion designer for Sears Roebuck and Co. and other fashion brands. Their next adventure was the move to Laconia, NH where the couple raised their two children Mario and Martina.
Gisela was a freelance artist in the Lakes Region and an active member of the Laconia Art Association and the Artist's Loft. Her art skills expanded beyond design to include many mediums including watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, and sculpture. Gisela enjoyed creating beautiful silkscreen scarves but her first love was simple charcoal or pencil portrait work.
As a member of the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club, she enjoyed both sailboat racing and cruising. Gisela and Armin started, owned and ran Winnipesaukee Sailing Center for decades and shared their passion and skills with many people. Gisela’s
adventures took her sailing in the Caribbean and later even to Greece. As a lover of snow and winter, she was an accomplished skier seen locally at Gunstock but also frequently exploring the Alps in Europe and the Rockies.
Lovingly called "Omi" by her grandchildren, she enjoyed spending time in many outdoor adventures with them and was lucky enough to get to know her great grandchildren. Some of her other favorite pastimes included feeding birds outside
her windows, cooking, baking, shoveling snow (when it was fluffy and light!) swimming, enjoying classical music, theatre and dining out.
Gisela is survived by her sister Monika Dechau of Germany, her son Mario Langsten and his wife Linda of Bedford, NH, her daughter Martina Howe with husband Andy of Gilford, grandchildren and great-grands including Isaac Howe (wife Jen and young son Harrison) of Warwick, RI, Katrina Derrick (husband Miles and young son Finley) of Waitsfield, VT, Alex Howe (wife Emily and young son Wilder) of Wolcott, VT, Christopher Langsten (wife Ashley and daughter Avery) of Hampton, NH and Mackenzie Langsten of Manchester, NH. In addition to her parents, Gisela is predeceased by her former husband Armin Langsten. Gisela, soft spoken and loved by everyone she met will be dearly missed.
A Celebration of Life will be observed at a later date.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.