Willi Ostermann Memorial

Wilhelm "Willi" Ostermann was born on October 1st, 1876 in Mülheim am Rhein. He died on
August 6th, 1936 in Cologne and was a composer and lyricist of home and carnival songs mainly in Cologne dialect. Ostermann attended the Catholic elementary school in Deutz from 1883 to 1891. Since Deutz was a garrison town at that time, Willi Ostermann came into contact with the passing military bands in his early childhood.
In 1903 he married Katharina Maria Striebeck; this marriage ended in divorce. In 1911, Ostermann married the revue dancer Käte Palm. In the years that followed, he continued the success he had begun.
Ostermann gave his last guest performance in July 1936 in Bad Neuenahr, where he suffered a collapse on the stage in the Kurhaus and was immediately admitted to the Lindenburg Hospital in Cologne. On August 6, 1936, Ostermann died in hospital.

Willi Ostermann was a composer and lyricist of folk and carnival songs. "Wherever he ponders, where he writes, many a lovely time, a memorial stone was erected for him, in his nightingale valley!" (Leo Renner)

Behind it is a cave entrance.

In a half-hour WDR production, which can also be seen on youtube, the Bläck Fööss sing and play some of the most beautiful songs penned by Willi Ostermann: