Margaret Kienow Barrales

Margaret Jane Barrales (Margie), 81, of Fredericksburg, VA passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. Now with her Lord in Heaven, she is lovingly remembered by her brother, Ken Kienow and wife, Ellie, her sister, Karen Pinkstaff, and her sister-in-law, Penny Kienow; her nephews and nieces and their spouses, Karl and Jill Kienow, Kathy and Gary Giovannetti, Judy and John Pence, Rhondi and Wayne Durand, Robin and Mark Rose, Stephen and Eve Hopkins, Sara and John DiLuna, and Hana and Nathan Kossak, and many grand-nephews and grand-nieces; two sisters-in-law, Yollie Luna and husband, Jose, and Lupe Marquez and husband, Eddie; and six brothers-in-law, Raul, Carlos, David, Francisco, Ruben, and Jorge Barrales; many cherished cousins, and her amazing Church Family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe Tena Barrales; her father, Orwald Kienow; mother, Margaret (Klug) Kienow; her brother Paul Kienow; and her brother-in-law, Tom Pinkstaff. Margie was born at the Kienow family home on September 17, 1942 in Milwaukee, WI, and moved to Acton, MA while still a toddler. She spent her formative years at the family farm, picking apples from the trees, canoeing along the creek on their property with her siblings, and delighting in the antics of her two older brothers on a farm. She moved to Tucson, AZ in 1955, when her father took a job with Hughes (now Raytheon), and this ignited her love for the Sonoran Desert, its wonderful citrus, and the famous Arizona sun. She attended the University of Arizona, which is where she met the love of her life, and partner in all adventures, Joe Barrales. Their connection was instant, and their love would carry them through 48 years of marriage and blessings together. After graduation, Margie began her career in social work, where she was relentless in her efforts to help those in need. A plaque on the office wall in Tucson read, “Love is… being able to give of yourself.” This embodied her work in the office, in the field, in the prisons, and later in her community after retirement, where she still “practiced" social work with the youth and families she met along her journey. Margie and Joe moved to Fredericksburg, VA where they built a home they loved dearly, and Margie continued her social work career in Alexandria. Margie loved to travel and experience new places, sights, sounds, foods, and especially, people. As she said herself of her many travels with her husband, Joe, “I drag poor Joe all over the place; he’s such a good guy!”. And that she did. They traveled the world, with Joe at her side, armed with the 5 languages he knew, and her bright yellow outfits to bring the sunshine she loved from the desert in Arizona to the rest of the world. She loved all animals, especially dogs, and had many four-legged companions throughout her life who would sit in the sunroom with her in Virginia. She had a love of books and knowledge, and never stopped learning new things. Her family and friends will always remember her contagious laughter, larger than life personality, constant smile, and her high tolerance for high jinks. Margie will be laid to rest with her beloved Joe in Arlington National Cemetery. There will be a Celebration of Life on January 6, 2024 at 11:00am at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg, VA. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.