Marianne Reichel Herrmann

Born February 27, 1931 in Berlin, Germany

Died August 8, 2023 in Rock Island, Illinois

You were an amazing lady and an awesome mother.

Marianne died peacefully but unexpectedly in her sleep in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 8th. She has been battling some health issues the past year, but that becoming increasingly more severe. For those of you that don't know her, she had an amazing life.

She was born in Berlin in 1931, the oldest of five children born to Eberhard and Erna Reichel. When Berlin was being bombed beginning in 1940, she (age 9), along with most of the city’s children took refuge in the country, living with local families and attending school. Eventually the whole family was evacuated to that area where they lived over a barn for a few years. After the war, she met Ulrich Herrmann in college in Geissen, Germany. She was also a lab tech at a dairy. They married in 1953 and immigrated to the US in 1956, originally to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where their first child, daughter Karen was born. They moved to Arlington, Texas in late 1958, where their son Roland was born. Ulrich started teaching physics at what would later become the University of Texas at Arlington in 1962 and became full professor a few years later. Marianne thoroughly enjoyed being a stay at home mom with the kids. Later, she earned her bachelor’s degree and worked as a realtor. She was active in women's rights, community and environmental organizations. She also worked on a few political campaigns.

They both wanted to explore the US, so EVERY year they would go on a long camping trip; 6 weeks if Ulrich was teaching 1/2 the summer and 3 months if he wasn't. They returned to visit family back in Germany every 3-4 years and later started exploring other countries. Marianne even went to China and Tibet without Ulrich. They were very lucky to be able to travel so much. They both instilled a deep and abiding love of nature and the outdoors in both of their children.

In the early years in Arlington, they were fortunate enough to meet a few other immigrant families with kids the same age; the Sambells from Australia, the McBrinns from Ireland and the Dashfields from England. As none of these folks had any other family in the US, they became the immigrant family and celebrated every holiday and took a multitude of vacations together. We were all blessed to have this immigrant family and we all remain close to this day.

Marianne and Ulrich had numerous other friends through the university, the Unitarian Church, political organizations and the neighborhood. They had fabulous parties and enjoyed annual ski trips with friends and dad's graduate students.

Marianne will be missed by many, many people. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ulrich. She leaves behind her children: Roland (Lisa) Herrmann of Longmont, Colorado and Karen Hagerty, of Rock Island, Illinois. She will also be missed by her grandchildren: Caitlin Hagerty (David Li), Melissa Hagerty, Haley Herrmann, and Jansen Herrmann.

There will be a celebration of life service at the All People’s Church in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 7, 2023. In lieu of flowers, please go outside and enjoy our beautiful natural world and consider planting a tree in her honor. Condolences may be shared at www.Rungemortuary.com..