Renate Sybille Posthofen

Renate Sybille Posthofen, 49, passed away at her home in Logan on Tuesday July 15, 2008. At the time of her passing, she was professor of German at Utah State University. She was a beloved teacher and colleague with a strong research record, especially in modern Austrian literature. She was past president of the Utah chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German and a past member of the executive board of the Utah Foreign Language Association. She had received many grants and awards for her work.

She was born in Wuppertal, Germany on February 12, 1959 to Heinz Joseph Posthofen and Ursula Nippel Posthofen. Her mother died when she was 10 months old and she grew up primarily under the care of her aunt and uncle. Renate was a loving, strong willed, independent person. She received her graduate training at the Albert-Ludwigs Universitaat in Frieburg, Germany, the University of Pittsburg, and The University at Albany (SUNY). She is survived by her children Noah David Palmieri Posthofen and Sophia Pauline Palmieri Posthofen and her former husband Robert Palmieri. She had a great love for her friends and colleagues and especially for her children. At the time of her passing, she was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Graveside services will be held at 3 pm on Wednesday, July 23 at the Logan City Cemetery. No viewing will be held prior. Flowers may be sent to the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan Utah 84321. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net
If preferred, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Carl Degener Scholarship fund of the Department of Languages, Philosophy, and Speech Communication at Utah State University.