Marian Porter Gmeiner died unexpectedly, but peacefully Sunday, September 22nd on her 102nd birthday. She was born September 22, 1922 to Clare Aden and Jennie Pearl Loar Porter at the family farm house in Ogden Township, Michigan. She attended the nearby one room school for eight years. After graduating from Blissfield High School she attended Adrian College where she was editor of the yearbook and the first woman president of the Student Union.
On November 30, 1946 she and John B. Gmeiner were married in the chapel at Adrian College. They were married almost 61 years when he died October 21, 2007.
Marian taught mathematics at Starr Commonwealth for Boys in Albion, MI followed by a position as the Home Service Director for Citizens Gas Fuel Co in Adrian, MI where she met her future husband. She then taught Home Economics in the Jackson, MI; Ridgewood, NJ and Concord, MA school systems.
In 1964-65 she and the children joined John in Lahore, Pakistan where he was working. She and John continued to travel for the balance of their time together. They traveled to all 50 states, much of Canada and most of Europe, India, Kashmir, Turkey, Kenya, Egypt, Australia and New Zealand.
Marian and John lived in Jackson, MI; Ridgewood, NJ; Acton, MA before retiring to Cape Cod in 1983. Wherever they lived she and John started a three table duplicate bridge group and had an Irish Coffee Christmas Parties.
In addition to teaching Marian also volunteered over the years. She was president of various PTAs; area commander for Community Chest; neighborhood chairman for Girl Scouts; treasurer for Sandwich Food Pantry; and Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod worker. She was an active member of First Church of Christ Sandwich where she was: president of Church Circle, deacon, and served on several committees.
She spent time reading books plus two daily and two weekly newspapers. Much of her TV time was watching sports being a passionate fan of the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox, the Patriots, the Celtics, professional golf, and U of MI and MI State games. Marian also enjoyed the theater in New York City and on Cape Cod.
Dogs were always a part of her life from Fanny who kept the toddler out of the road to Kain who walked the half mile with her when Marian was in her nineties.
She is survived by her daughter, Sallie J. Gmeiner and husband Richard Bernier of East Taunton, MA; son, John P. Gmeiner and wife Faye of Kennebunk, ME; son, James L. Gmeiner and wife Adrienne of Groton, MA; grandson, Joshua H. Gmeiner and wife Krista of Adams, MA; granddaughter Sarah B. Gmeiner and wife Halley of South Hadley, MA; and granddaughter Julia T. Gmeiner and husband Joshua Wurzman of Southbury, CT; nephew Aden Wayne Porter of Blissfield, MI; niece Barbara Russell of Quincy, MI and nephew Jon Fransen of Takoma Park, MD.
She was predeceased by her husband, parents and brother Aden Walter Porter.
Marian always felt blessed and thankful for her loving family and many good friends.
Services for Marian will be at 1:00 Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the First Church Sandwich, UCC in Sandwich, MA. A reception at the church will follow. All are invited to attend. Burial to follow at Sandwich Town Cemetery. Services will be provided by Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home of Sandwich, MA.
Donations may be made in memory of Marian to First Church Sandwich, UCC Sandwich, MA, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod or the Sandwich Food Pantry.
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