Marjorie Lankenau Bierschenk

Few people loved the 4th of July celebrations quite like our mom (Geeg). For a while as a child she thought the celebrations were for her birthday. Born on that day in 1928 she was the only child of Isabelle Watson and Ernst Lankenau. She grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. attending Girls Commercial High School (some of her best memories) and later Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. At a church social she met William Bierschenk and they married in 1948.

They had four daughters born in four different states before a brief stint at Hanford in the mid-fifties. In 1958 the family moved to Tehran, Iran where Bill's job as a geohydrologist lead to numerous opportunities overseas. Marge made the most of her time in Iran, learning Farsi, shopping in the bazaars and traveling throughout the country from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf. She made friends easily in the international community and loved to host get togethers. In summers the family traveled through Europe and Africa.

In 1970 Marge returned to their Virginia home so her three younger daughters could attend college. In 1977 Bill finally left Iran and retired. They spent many years traveling the US and the world. They left Va. in 1986 and built a home in Eugene, OR where Bill passed two years later. Marge moved to Tacoma to be closer to family while still maintaining her independence, making good friends, playing bridge and traveling back east to see family. Her last four years was spent in a retirement community in the Tri- Cities, and eventually her last month was in her daughter Nancy's home where she passed July 21.

We remember our mom as a beautiful person with a wonderful sense of humor who knew suffering, loss and struggles as we all do but found her way with an understanding of life that filled her with grace and compassion. We miss her.

She's remembered by her daughters: Nancy (Noel) of Richland, WA, Wendy Olympia, WA, Ellen (Martin) Warrenton, VA her grandchildren; Ryan (Sarah) Brush Prairie WA, Aryn (Rosanna) W. Richland, WA, Marjory( Duncan) Raleigh, NC and Luke (Aijan) McLean, VA. Great-grandchildren Aiden, Isaac, Taylor and Bryn. Preceding her in death was her daughter Karen (Queens, NY}. The family is grateful for the care she received from the Hospice team of the Chaplaincy. Memorials may be given to the charity of your choice.