Adele Duttweiler

Adele Duttweiler
Adele Duttweiler attending a course of the so-called Klubschule
Born	Adele Bertschi (1892-12-29)29 December 1892 Horgen
Died	27 July 1990(1990-07-27) (aged 97) Rüschlikon
Monuments	Park im Grüene
Residence	Park im Grüene
Nationality	Swiss
Occupation	Swiss businesswoman and philanthropist
Years active	1925–1990
Known for	Migros
Spouse(s)	Gottlieb Duttweiler
Awards	Adele-Duttweiler-Preis

Adele Duttweiler (29 December 1892 – 27 July 1990) was a Swiss philanthropist and the wife of Gottlieb Duttweiler, founder of both the Migros group and the LdU political party.

Adele Bertschi was born on 29 December 1892 in Horgen on Zürichsee lake shore. Her mother was Maria, née Antille, her father was Samuel, who had emigrated to the USA, where he founded a ribbon weaving mill. When his first wife died, he returned as a "made man" back to Switzerland. He married Maria Antille, who originates from the Canton of Valais. The couple moved to Horgen, where they acquired the "In Rüsler" farm where Adele grew up. Her father died when Adele was at the age of eight years. Adele's mother was described as purposeful and spirited woman who had to cope with all sorts of harassment after the early death of her man. She struggled successfully against all odds, a character trait that Adele owned by her mother. After primary school in Horgen, Adele graduated from the then usual "Welschlandjahr" for young women – a longer stay in western Switzerland to learn the French language, mostly as domestic help. She then worked as an employee of ETH Zürich in the seeds control department.

As employee of ETH Zürich, Adele Bertschi drove daily by train from Horgen to Zürich. Around the year 1911, a handsome, young, well-dressed man from Rüschlikon began to sit down opposite the rather shy young acting 19-year-old woman, annoying Adele: "He looked at me with big eyes. I was not really happy, I was still almost a child. But probably just my reticence has irritated him not to give up." When his courtship seemed to show no result, he tried a hackney. As soon as he had learned to ride, he visited his beloved at her home in Horgen. Unfortunately, his appearance attracted more impression to Adele's mother and sister. The mother then invited the imposing but somewhat uncertain tab for lunch. Adele Duttweiler expressed concerns where they seemed attached to her, even in quite commercial matters. He listened to their advice, and his in-the-future-thinking was always added by Adele's sense of the reality of the presence.

In 1912 the then 24-year-old Gottlieb and the almost 20-year Adele celebrated their engagement, and on 29 March 1913 the wedding took place. Thus the entirely unusual, almost half a century lasting life and work of two people began, whose work has helped to shape Switzerland sustainable in the twentieth century.