Marquerite Achenbach

Marquerite Achenbach, a longtime Geneva resident, passed away Friday September 21, 2001 at her home. She was 93.

Born January 23, 1908 on an Indian reservation in Vinita, Oklahoma, Marguerite was the third of ten children and the only girl born to Richard and Rose (Cashen) McWard. She spent her early years on the family farm near Morrisonville in central Illinois and taught school in a rural one room schoolhouse in the early 1930’s. Marquerite married Darrell Achenbach in St. Louis, Missouri on December 22, 1933 after catching his eye while she was a contestant (and he a judge) in the County beauty contest at the annual Christian County Fair. The Achenbach’s moved to Geneva in 1946 where they raised their family, daughter Kay and son Bill. Marquerite served on the Geneva School Board for many years. The couple moved to Bloomington, Illinois in the 1960 for 15 years while Darrell worked as an executive for Country Companies, and returned to Geneva in 1975 to be nearer their children and grandchildren. Marguerite and Darrell were active members of the Geneva United Methodist Church.

Marguerite is survived by her children Kay (Wayne, IL) and Bill (Charlottesville, VA); son-in-law Wendell Clancy; daughter-in-law Carolyn Achenbach; grandchildren Michael, Scott, Tim, Sue, Kathryn, Heidi and Jess; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Donald McWard (Normal, IL) and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Darrell (1991) and eight brothers.

A memorial service for Marguerite will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2001 at the United Methodist Church of Morrisonville, Illinois at 11 a.m. Memorials in her name may be made to the United Methodist Church of Geneva, 211 Hamilton St. Geneva, IL 60134