Marjorie Weidler
Marjorie Lois (Coates) Withrow Weidler, 95, of Decatur passed away Thursday, July 22, 2016 at Adams Woodcrest in Decatur. She was born on May 15, 1921 in Ashland, Wisconsin to Raymond and Maybelle (Harris) Coates. She was married on May 27, 1939 in San Jose, California to Albert W. Withrow. He preceded her in death on November 24, 1983. She was married on November 19, 1988 to Arnold N. Weidler in Vera Cruz. He preceded her in death on January 23, 2006.
Her father died when she was five years old, and her mother was forced to place Margie in an orphanage in Wisconsin. At the orphanage, she learned to knit which became a lifelong hobby. At age nine, she went to live with her sister at a logging camp and helped out in the kitchen. A fire destroyed the camp and killed her sister so she was returned to the orphanage. At age 14, her mother came and got her, and they traveled to Riverside, California in the rumple seat of a car. They settled in Riverside, and there she was able to finish high school and take bookkeeping classes. She had worked as a bookkeeper at the Seventh Day Adventist Southern California Conference in Riverside, California, retiring in 1985. After her retirement, she did extensive traveling to the Holy Land, Europe, and Australia. On a flight home to Riverside, she met Arnold Weidler. A year later, they married and enjoyed 18 years together traveling to Germany twice and extensively around the U.S.
She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Withrow Smith of Pleasant View, Utah; son, Albert William Withrow, Jr. of Bering Springs, Michigan; two step-daughters, Arlene J. (Wes) Kuntzman of Monroe; and Tami L. (David) DeWille of Wapakoneta, Ohio; two step-sons, Dan E. (Debbie) Weidler of Ventura, Calfornia; and James A. (Catherine) Weidler of Kokomo; five grandchildren, Cynthia and Ronald Smith; and Debra, Timothy, and Wendy Withrow; 11 step-grandchildren, Bethany (Kevin) Kuntzman Sinclair; Michael and Jonathan Kuntzman; Crystal and Amanda Seem; Jeni (Michael) Irish; Heather (Jeremy) Hamilton; and Steve, Douglas, Dean, & Brian Barger; four nephews, Tim Coates and Robert Coates of California; and Raymond (Lynn) Coates and David (Sandra) Coates of Iron River, Michigan; ten great-grandchildren; and 13 step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; step-daughter, Nancy C. Brown; two brothers, Robert and Raymond Coates; and two sisters, Crystal and Florence Coates.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur. Officiating will be Pastor Wes Kuntzman and Pastor Ernie Suman. Burial will be at Decatur Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Zion United Brethren Church in Bobo.
Arrangements provided by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.zwickjahn.com.