Marjorie A. Riensche, 96, of Wahoo, formerly of Tecumseh and Cook, passed away January 15, 2014 at the South Haven Living Center in Wahoo, Nebraska. She was born to Willis and Fay (Gibb) Meade on July 12, 1917 in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Marjorie attended District 36 rural school for her elementary years and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1934, along with her brother, Robert. They traveled to high school for two years with a horse and two-wheel cart, then drove a Model T Ford their final years and took two neighbors with them. Marjorie graduated with a certificate to teach rural school and started teaching in the fall of 1934 at a rural school south of Tecumseh for $30.00 per month. She taught for 7 years in four different rural schools and attended Peru State Teacher’s College.

She married Merle R. Riensche on March 29, 1941 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church west of Cook. After Merle was drafted in July 1941, Marjorie lived with Merle’s parents on a farmstead west of Cook. War kept Merle in the Army for four years and Marjorie was able to be with him while he was stationed in Williamsburg, VA, Wilmington, NC and El Paso, TX and during this time they established many life-long friendships.

After his discharge, Merle and Marjorie rented a farm for 10 years and then purchased the farm north of Tecumseh in 1956 where they spent many happy years raising their family and Marjorie helped Merle with the farm. She returned to teaching school in 1956 and 1957 prior to their daughter’s birth in 1958. She held several jobs over the years, working at Warden’s Clothing store for two years, the ASCS office for six years, clerk at the Tecumseh Livestock Auction for two years and helped in the Johnson County Weed office. Marjorie served as Johnson County Assessor for thirteen years prior to the retirement in 1983. After retirement, Marjorie and Merle enjoyed many years traveling in their pickup/camper to visit family on both coasts as well as many fishing trips with neighbors. They loved to dance and spent many evenings dancing to local bands or traveling to bigger ballrooms in Wahoo or Utica. A favorite activity was helping to pick fruit to make their famous homemade wine and even after Merle’s death in 1996, Marjorie could be found picking choke cherries, wild blackberries and raspberries for the family.

Marjorie moved to Cook in 1997 where she enjoyed quilting at Grace Lutheran Church, embroidering quilts for all of her grandchildren, traveling to visit her family and of course, fishing trips with Larry to Alaska and the Puget Sound. Marjorie was an active member of the Bickel-Nelson American Legion Auxiliary Unit #360 of Cook for over 40 years and served as Unit President for 15 years. She took great pride that her granddaughter, Amanda, served as Honorary National President of the organization and daughter, Barbara was elected as Department Historian.

She is survived by her four children, Ronald Riensche and wife Nancy of Riverview, FL, Larry Riensche and wife Lenore of Whidbey Island, WA, Glen Riensche of Ashland and Barbara Washburn and husband Doug of Ashland, 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Merle, brother, Robert Meade and wife Beth, sister, Edith Ferguson and husband Paul, grandson, Duane Riensche, niece, Kathryn Walker and nephew Darrel Wright and wife Jo.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Cook, Nebraska with Rev. Jim Helgren officiating. Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Monday, January 20, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m, with family greeting friends from 5-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may go to the family's choice. Interment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska. Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.