Hans Jürgen Becker passed away peacefully on July 14, 2011 at the age of 84. He was the first of five children born to Anna Maria and Ferdinand Emmanuel Becker in Berlin, Germany on September 10, 1926. Hans grew up a happy boy in Berlin pre-World War II where he enjoyed playing soccer with his schoolmates, camping, swimming and sometimes getting into mischief.  He was a good student due to the “encouragement” of his mother. Then World War II came.  At seventeen years of age, Hans answered the call to service.  During his service, he was captured and became an American prisoner of war.  He was held captive for over 3 years after the war.  Amazingly he was released, found his way back to his family and found that both of his parents and four younger siblings had survived.  They had been separated for years, but the war was over and they could move on. Post war life in East Berlin was not easy.  The family realized that they needed to leave  -  all accomplishing this at various times and in various ways.  Hans’ escape came by way of splashing across a 25-foot river at the moment the border guards were not looking. He made it!! After working and living in the west for a while, Hans and his brothers made their way to the United States and settled in San Francisco. His sisters and parents followed a short time after. Hans decided to try his hand at baking bread.  He came up with a recipe that his mother approved of and eventually opened a bakery.  Bread from Hans’ Continental Foods was a staple at many retail vendors for years.  To this day, there is nothing the family loves more than a piece of Hans’ freshly baked bread, affectionately known as “Hans Bread”.  To his delight, many family members mastered the art of his German bread making only by careful tutalige on his part.  This made him very proud. Hans married, had three daughters and lived in Mill Valley for many years.  He moved to San Jose where he met his beloved Terry and was married to her until the end.   Hans had a life more unusual compared to most.  He will be missed and most certainly always remembered.  He can rest in peace knowing that the strong German culture he instilled has not died, but will live on in the hearts of his children and the rest of his family forever more.  His family is sure that he is now rejoicing in the reunion with his parents and sister Christa Becker Billawala who predeceased him in 2003.  He is survived by his wife, Terry Becker, his daughters Susanne Becker, Gabriela Becker Chiapellone & Melissa Becker Garrigan, sons-in-law, John Chiapellone & Larry Garrigan, grandchildren Sophia, Kaitlyn and Benjamin, his brothers Peter Becker & Adolf Becker, his sister Karola Becker Fleck, and many many nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.