Marjorie Bong Drucker

Marjorie Bong Drucker, 79, died Saturday, September 27, 2003 in Superior with her family at her side after a six year battle with cancer. She was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota on October 25, 1923 the daughter of Stella and Sigurd Vattendahl. She grew up in Superior and graduated from the Superior Teachers College. In 1945 she married Richard I. Bong, but six months later he died in Burbank, California where he was test-piloting the Air Force's first jet. Marjorie later worked in the fashion industry where she worked for Hollywood 's largest modeling agency. She moved into writing and magazine publishing with a magazine called "California Girl' after meeting Murray Drucker. She soon became the magazine's fashion coordinator. During this time, she married Murray and they traveled internationally for photo shoots. In 1956 she launched a magazine called "The Boxer Review', a dog magazine on the Boxer breed and it has won national awards as best single breed publication. In 1985, she was in Superior to dedicate the new Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge. In 1989 she helped establish the Bong P-38 Fund with the goal of building a tribute to Bong and the other veterans of World War II. In 1995 she published 'Memories', a book chronicling her life with Dick Bong of which all the proceeds go directly to the Bong Heritage Center. Over the past two decades, Marjorie dedicated her time to ensuring that the stories of veterans would not be forgotten. She was the vice-chair of the Richard I. Bong WWII Heritage Center and an active speaker on behalf of World War II veterans. Known for her quick wit and sense of humor, she loved talking to WWII veterans and hearing their stories. People would surround her at events to tell her of their encounters with her and Dick Bong and give her paintings and medallions they had made for her or to give her pictures taken with her. In 2002, Marjorie moved from her home in Los Angeles's Laurel Canyon to return to Poplar, Wis., where she built a home on the Bong family farm. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Richard I. 'Dick' Bong in 1945, her second husband Murray Drucker in 1991; her two brothers, Lowell and Jerome Vattendahl; and her parents. Marjorie is survived by two daughters, Kristina 'Tina' Drucker, Los Angeles, Calif.; Karen Drucker, San Franciso, Calif. and a brother, William (Gladys) Vattendahl, Longville, Minn. VISITATION:12 Noon, Tuesday, September 30, 2003 at Peace Lutheran Church, Poplar and continue until the 1 p.m. Memorial Service with Pastor Greg Gullicksrud officiating. Inurnment will be in Poplar Cemetery. The family request donations be made to a Memorial fund established in Marjorie Bong Drucker's name at the Richard I. Bong World War II Heritage Center, 305 Harbor View Parkway, Superior, Wisconsin , 54880. The Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.