Marijke Annette Kyler Obituary (1932 - 2018)

Marijke Kyler of Harrisonburg, VA died in her sleep on June 30, 2018, at the age of 86. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Rinehart Kyler. Marijke was born in Amsterdam, graduated from Barlaeus Gymnasium, attend Eastern Mennonite College, studied at the Sorbonne and completed her studies at the University of Mount Union in Ohio. In 1953, she participated in the relief work with Mennonite Central Committee following the North Sea flood in the Netherlands. She emigrated to the US and met her husband in Wooster, Ohio. She taught languages at Bloomfield College and at Eastern Mennonite College. Her life was filled with curiosity and deep connection to family, to friends, to music (especially Wagner), to books, to her cats, to her garden, to spinning and knitting, and to everyone and everything she loved. She was active until the very end, attending two high school graduations, the Washington National Opera, visiting her sister in Cleveland, travelling to Colorado, and attending the Bach festival, all within the last few weeks of her life. She is survived by her sister Jette DeVrieze of Cleveland, Ohio, her brother Peter Schuette of Beaverton, Oregon, and her sons Robert (Nancy) Kyler of Staunton, VA, Karl (Quantz) Bruns-Kyler of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Peter Haas (Cristi) Kyler of Steeles Tavern, Virginia, and her seven grandchildren. The family welcomes all who knew her to attend a reception Friday evening, July 6th, from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM at the EMU Discipleship Center above the EMU on Hillcrest Drive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cat's Cradle of Harrisonburg, www.catscradleva.org, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com McMullen Funeral Home in Harrisonburg is in charge of arrangements.