14 Facts About Liselotte Funcke

Liselotte Funcke was a German liberal politician of the Free Democratic Party.

Liselotte Funcke was a member of the German Bundestag parliament from 1961 to 1979, serving as its vice president from 1969.

Liselotte Funcke then was appointed state Minister of Economy in North Rhine-Westphalia, the first woman in the position.

Liselotte Funcke was born in Hagen to a liberal-leaning family, the fourth child of a factory owner.

Liselotte Funcke's father was member of the board and president of the Reichsverbandes der Deutschen Industrie from 1919 to 1933, and became a member of the Bundestag for the FDP in the 1950s.

Liselotte Funcke's mother came from the Osthaus family of bankers.

Liselotte Funcke attended the Realgymnasium, where she achieved the Abitur in 1937.

Liselotte Funcke served in the Arbeitsdienst and attended the Kaufmannsschule Dortmund.

Liselotte Funcke then studied Betriebswirtschaftslehre in Berlin, where she earned her diploma in 1941.

Liselotte Funcke was a member of the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament from 1950 to 1961, when she was elected to the German Bundestag.

Liselotte Funcke served as state Minister of Economy in North Rhine-Westphalia from 1979, the first woman in the position.

Liselotte Funcke had to leave the post a year later because her party was no longer part of the Landtag.

Liselotte Funcke was the Auslanderbeauftragte der Bundesregierung from 1981 to 1991, working for the federal government for the integration of foreigners and their families, again the first woman to hold the position.

Liselotte Funcke understood the position as "interpreter" of the problems of the foreigners, especially the large group of Turkish workers who brought their families with them; it earned her the respectful name Mutter der Turken, and she continued to serve their interests in public after her official term.