Katharina Ebert

Katharina Schairen Ebert was born on April 8, 1862 in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, to parents Andrew Schairen and Anna Maria (Schandt) Schairen. Her name is sometimes spelled "Katrina."

Katharina immigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois. She married fellow German immigrant Joachim "Joseph" Ebert. Together, the couple had four children:

• Hulda Catherine Johanna Ebert: b. February 24, 1896 in Effingham, Effingham, Illinois; d. March 25, 1952 (age 56) in Urbana, Champaign, Illinois; never married
• Wanda Justine Freida Ebert: b. July 19, 1898 in Effingham, Effingham, Illinois; d. March 21, 1982 (age 83); never married
• Walter Harry Ebert: b. November 20, 1901 in Urbana, Champaign, Illinois; d. September 22, 1960 (age 58) of lung cancer in Urbana, Champaign, Illinois

The couple also adopted a daughter, Maud, before they realized they were not incapable of conceiving, as they had previously believed.

Walter's son was the famed film critic Roger Ebert.

Katharina died on March 28, 1940, at the age of 77, in Urbana. She was buried beside her husband at the town's Woodlawn Cemetery.

• http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/03/my_old_man.html