I was born on July 1st in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany. From an early age, I developed a deep interest in the Indigenous cultures of North America, a passion that has stayed with me throughout my life.
After completing school and my military service, I worked as a physical therapist for nearly 30 years. My final professional position in this field was in Switzerland, where I lived for 12 years. During that time, I met a Swiss man who organized cultural trips to the United States, offering participants the opportunity to connect with the culture and spirituality of the Lakota people.
In September 2012, I finally fulfilled a childhood dream and traveled to South Dakota in the American Midwest. My time in the Black Hills changed my life forever and inspired a new dream: to build my future there.
A few years later, that dream became reality. I moved to the United States, completed the official immigration process, and received my Green Card. In April 2024, I relocated to Hill City, where I continue to live today. Surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills, I built a new life for myself and, in April of this year, fulfilled yet another dream by opening a souvenir shop specializing in authentic Native American arts and crafts.
The name for the business came naturally: Face The Storm.
My passion for Indigenous culture and my fascination with the American bison are reflected throughout my store. Face The Storm is more than just a name—it is a way of life. If you replace the word “storm” with “life” or “life’s challenges,” it becomes a choice that each of us must make: to face life and its hardships head-on or to run away from them.
Face The Storm is meant to inspire confidence and remind us that every problem has a solution if we refuse to give up. My hope is that everyone who visits my store leaves with a little of that spirit and carries it with them on their own journey.
