Page 29 - San Diego Woman Magazine Digital Version

Women of Distinction

plight in her broken English and Vivianne felt defeated. So, at the She was 20 years old, beautiful,
the priest gave them $35.00. This tender age of 17, she decided to full of life, with a twinkle in
money bought rice, flour and take her own life. She thought her eye when fellow German
other staples to hold the family about the different ways to end immigrant, Wiland Knebel
over until Papa could find work. her life and after considering noticed Vivianne and her life
This experience made a deep the possibilities she remem- changed forever. When Wiland
impression on Vivianne, and she bered she heard- once if you saw Vivianne he ‘thought she
decided to take life in her own were in a garage and closed the was a stone that looked different
hands. door and let a car motor run from all the others. I had the
At 14, she begged her moth- you would be overcome with foresight to polish that stone,
er to get a work permit for her carbon monoxide and simply and it turned into a diamond.”
so she could go to work and help fall into a deep sleep. With the The soon to be diamond and
the family. Vivianne got a dream garage door closed and the her knight married in 1965 and
job for a 14-year-old immigrant, motor running, Vivianne was immigrated to the United States
one that would guarantee her about to let her young life leave and found success in Wiland‘s
future and give her a profession. her body when suddenly she wood exporting business. They radiation, and the loving support
She was to work for a dentist, saw a little girl with cropped raised two children together of Wiland, Vivianne is a cancer
and he was going to train her hair wearing a short dress. The and settled in the Midwest. survivor.
to become a dental assistant. little girl asked Vivianne what Wiland has always en- Vivianne‘s decided that it
Vivianne looked older than her she was doing and immediately couraged Vivianne to be all she was time to pay tribute to her
young 14 years and her natural Vivianne turned off the engine. could be, and she learned to husband, and to share her story.
beauty was beginning to become While getting out of the car pilot a plane, run a marathon A story of a brave Lady, who
noticeable. One afternoon when and shaking her head clear, Vivi- and become that shiny diamond. survived bombs, hunger, sexual
the dentist was out, a friend of anne looked for this little girl but Vivianne declares that one of her abuse, and the stigma of being
the dentist sexually assaulted couldn‘t find her. biggest accomplishments was illegitimate, and cancer.
Vivianne. Vivianne’s told me she when she became an American The minute she turned
Her next job was one of thought the little girl was about citizen. “This country has given off the engine in that garage,
service as she began making 6, and she thought maybe she us so much, and we are forever she knew she had a mission to
sandwiches behind the lunch came into the garage by a side grateful for that.” Vivianne‘s complete. Her mission has been
counter at Woolworth‘s, a large door. I would like to entertain gratitude extends to her husband fulfilled by sharing her story, so
drugstore that became famous another idea if I may. As most of of 55 years and to Karsten Jo- others may know that trials and
as they sold a myriad of different you know I am an energy healer ehnk, another German immi- tribulations can be overcome
things. Vivianne liked this job among other things. I believe grant, who has been a partner as long as you keep a positive
as she felt appreciated and even we all have an inner child that since 1974, a visionary, a friend attitude.
noticed with her little name tag. will appear when and if we need and a family member. She decid- Vivianne and Wiland are
She wanted more out of life, so them to help us with unparallel ed to write a book called, From retired and live in La Jolla, an af-
while working at Woolworth, wisdom. I would like to think Rubble To Champagne for his fluent California community and
she enrolled in night school and this little girl was actually her 80th birthday. part of San Diego County. They
learned how to be a stenog- inner child, telling her she had a Vivianne was presented still enjoy each other’s company.
rapher and how to type. This whole life to live and a mission with yet another obstacle she She takes good care of herself
proved to be a smart decision as to complete. I also believe that would have to overcome. In a and sets a beautiful table with
soon after she was able to find part of that mission was writing routine visit with her doctor, he wine glasses ready for her knight
a job working with the famed this book to help others in simi- found a lump in her breast. After to fill. She is also very fashion
German automaker Volkswagen. lar circumstances. a mammogram, she was given conscious, takes regular trips to
She was excited to be a part of With a newfound ener- her diagnosis of breast cancer. Europe to check out the latest
a large team of women working gy, Vivianne returned to her She was shocked and in disbelief, fashion, and is always perfectly
together, but soon became very job and was able to transfer why now when everything she coiffed. This, ladies and gents, is
despondent as these women to another job with the same had worked for her whole life my idea of a real Lady!
were over twice her age. There Volkswagen company as the was finally achieved. After may- To learn more about Vivi-
was no camaraderie - no life. secretary to the manager of the be 15 minutes of self-pity, Viv- anne’s incredible life order her
Every day that passed was customer service department. ianne decided she would treat book:
becoming more and more op- One day a handsome, dash- cancer like she has treated every From Rubble To Champag-
pressive and Vivianne became ing young man walked in and challenge in her life. She faced ne:Rising from the ashes of war-
very depressed and decided all bought a Porsche. He didn‘t it with a positive attitude and torn Berlin to a life of grace,
her efforts to improve herself have a white steed or shiny refused to allow this dreaded beauty and gratitude.
and help her family were in armor, but he was Vivianne‘s disease to invade her life the way Available at Amazon.com
vain. No matter what she did, white knight and her savior. it had her body. After surgery, and Barnes and Noble

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