Marie Brostrom's Obituary
Marie (Raphael) BrostromMarie Brostrom died while in Reno, Nevada on August 26, 2004, with her loving husband Bob holding her hand. Marie was born in Tacoma on March 27, 1938 and is preceded in death by her father Arthur M., mother Nancy M. MacDonald, and sister Nancy Capstick. She is survived by her husband Robert Â"Bob,Â" many nieces, cousins and friends. Marie wished to particularly acknowledge the love and support of friends Donna and Bud Card, their children Lynda (Lyn) Stonack, Terri Card, and Skip (Jean Margaret Smith) Card and the CardÂ's extended family Connie Willmann. Marie was a product of the Tacoma School District graduating from Stadium High School in 1956. Marie dreamed as a child of being a teacher but college just wasnÂ't in the picture at that time. She started work with the Weyerhaeuser Company up until 1962, then moved to Denver. She had her last date with Bob the night before she left. She returned to Tacoma in 1969, and married Louis Raphael in 1970. She started work with the Tacoma School District in 1971 and advanced through a variety of positions in the Business Office, Curriculum and Instruction Office, Secondary Education Office, and SuperintendentÂ's Office. In 1981 she returned to Stadium High School as the ASB secretary. Marie liked to think that Â"ghosts do roam the halls.Â" She recalled the many places she would walk with her first love and beau Bob, who many years later became her husband. Marie started taking classes at TCC in 1969. In 1981 she received an Associate Degree in Secretarial Science with honors. She continued studies and in 1985 earned a BA degree from The Evergreen State College. In 1990 she earned a MasterÂ's Degree in Public Administration from TESC. The following year she left the Tacoma School District to begin work with the Pierce County Council. Coincidentally by happenstance Bob had re-entered MarieÂ's life. They had not seen each other for over 27 years. Except for some graying and lost hair, a few pounds, and a lot of maturity they found nothing between them had changed. Bob and she married October 1997 while in Reno with good friends Bud and Donna as witnesses. It was the date of BobÂ's birthday, the day he retired from King County. Marie retired from Pierce County in August. MarieÂ's childhood dream had finally came true! She and Bob became Instructors for the AARP Driver Safety Program, and later as Assistant State Coordinators for the Pierce County area. MarieÂ's illness prevented her from teaching for several months.Marie and Bob hosted a party for many of her friends and relatives at a celebration August 17, 2004. Grateful acknowledgement is given to MarieÂ's medical support team of the Group Health Hospice Program and all their personnel.Marie was active in many social and professional organizations. She held offices and was president of the Tacoma Association of Educational Office Personnel, the Washington State Association of Educational Office Personnel, and was president of the McNerthney Orthopedic Guild.Marie loved travel and travel she did all over the world. From Australia to Russia, from Europe to Canada and places in between.A Memorial Service will be held in the Mountain View Garden Chapel, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 11, 2004. Memorials may be made to the Group Health Comm. Foundation, Â"Hospice Program,Â" 1730 Minor Ave., Suite 1500, Seattle, WA 98101.Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home. 584-0252
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