Maria Koenigshoven

With a heavy heart and great sorrow. KOENIGSHOVEN, Maria, age 91, of Soledad, CA. transitioned on September 13th, 2025. Maria always maintained her grace, appreciation for beauty, and gratitude for her lifelong wonderful experiences with her family and friends.

Maria was born on May 9th, 1934, in Germany to Johann Lemoine and Helen Mueller Lemoine during the years of the Great Depression and Germany’s subsequent involvement in World War II.

One of eleven children, Maria grew up with traditional values of the Romani cultural community while she and her family survived and performed as a high wire troop throughout Europe until she immigrated to the United States in 1963.

Maria united in marriage with Ralf Koenigshoven on December 10, 1961, shortly thereafter immigrated to the United States looking for a better life as a high wire performer and entertainer. She will be remembered for her many accomplishments as a high wire performer as she so loved to entertain while she also kept up with the best high wire walkers of her time as she performed for some of the greatest shows on earth such as Harman Morton, Getty Charles, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey until a tragic accident in early 1970 forcing the end of her highwire career that led her to a career she loved with the Salinas School district working closely with elementary school children until her retirement.  Upon retiring, Maria relocated to Soledad, Ca., where she heightened her passion for gardening, there she could be found spending most of her days.

Maria is survived by those to cherish her memories are two of her sisters, Elise Strahan, Frieda Daniels, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her eldest daughter JoAnn Ishmael (James Travis), and daughter, Jennifer (Louie) Ray, granddaughters Angela Harrison (Colin O’Neil), Gwenn (Mark) Coronado, Shelby Ray (Stephen Elliott), Danielle (Miguel) Aguilar, and her great grandchildren Elijah Perez, and Penelope Coronado.

She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends for her fun loving and humorous attitude. May she be with God and rest in peace.