Marga Kuemmeler

On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, Marga Kuemmeler of Walnut Creek, Ca passed away peacefully at age 94.

Marga was born on October 29, 1926 in Vielau, a small town in eastern Germany.  She was the youngest of six children and grew up very quickly when she was orphaned at 16 after her parents died young.  She was raised mostly by her older sister Gertrude. 

Her youth was spent navigating the war years where she endured the tragedies of three of her brothers passing in World War II.  Her family ran a midsized hotel and restaurant which was nationalized during the war and Marga was asked to help run the home that was then used as a Polish orphanage.  She later escaped from East Germany in 1950 and settled in Bad Godesberg, West Germany.  She worked at the French Embassy  diplomat’s households until 1955 when she emigrated to New York to work as a nanny. 

In 1958 she moved to San Francisco where she reunited with her friend Henry who had previously worked in the same embassy in Germany and they were later married in 1960.  They gave birth to their only child, Donald.  She loved her years in San Francisco and rode her bicycle absolutely everywhere.  She was a devoted employee to the Getty family for many years and was extremely grateful for their kindness, generosity, and love for her.

Marga had a passion for nature and music.  She loved to walk along the beach and through Mountain Lake Park.  She also enjoyed vacationing at the Russian River where she would pick berries for hours to make a countless array of jams and jellies, which she generously gave to everyone she knew.  She would play her favorite classical music cassettes very loudly for all to hear.  She was a great neighbor and friend and always eager to bring food or help to those in need.

Marga was preceded in death by her husband, Henry.  She is survived by her son Donald and his wife Carolyn, and her grandchildren Lauren and Jeffrey.

The family will hold a private memorial.  Donations in her honor may be sent to the American Heart Association

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