Obituary of Marca Lynn Fritzemeier

Marca Fritzemeier is an amazing woman. "Is," because she is very much alive, though her earthly body has failed. "Amazing," because she lived out her faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. Marca knew that Christianity is not about religion, but rather a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Born on August 29, 1960, Marca was the daughter of Robert Henry and Evangeline Wendelburg. As the valedictorian of her 1978 high school class, in Stafford Kansas, Marca received a scholarship to attend Kansas State University, studying engineering. During her freshman year, a budding long-distance relationship turned more serious and Marca decided to re-focus on elementary education. After two years at K-State, Marca was engaged to Ronald Ray Fritzemeier, and together they headed to California, attending Fresno State University. On June 12, 1981, Marca Wendelburg officially became Mrs. Ron Fritzemeier, and shortly after, she graduated from Fresno State with her degree in elementary education. Marca was always the most loving and supportive of Ron and their life together, and was truly Ron's best friend. After college, Marca moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Ron found employment with Sandia National Laboratories. In time, Marca and Ron began their family, rearing four children, Ronald Charles "Chip", Robert Henry "Rob", Lyndee Rae, and Russell Glenn "Russ." While in Albuquerque, the Fritzemeier family enjoyed being active in the congregation at Foothills Fellowship church. While still in Albuquerque, as their children reached school age, Marca and Ron chose home schooling - so Marca's desire to get that education degree turned out to be an extra blessing to her family. In 1994, Marca and family moved to the East Coast when Ron accepted a temporary assignment there. Only expecting a year and a half assignment, Marca wasted no time scheduling "every" weekend for visits to national museums, Civil War battlefields, and numerous other historical and educational sites - all to ensure her children had the richest of experiences to add to their education. In early 1996, God "changed the plan," and the Fritzemeiers ended up staying on the East Coast, making their home in Loudoun County, Virginia, where Marca successfully completed home school for all four children. Marca's love of God, of education, and of her children was evidenced in the way she poured her life into each one, demonstrating God's love and teaching them to think independently, yet with a God-centered worldview. Never one to waist time, even while holding down the full-time jobs of Spouse, Mother, Home School teacher and librarian - Marca expanded her love of sewing and knitting to become an avid quilter. Over the years Marca created many tens of quilts, with the vast majority being "labors of love" made for extended family and friends. For some years Marca was part of a quilting group, developing yet another set of friends; Marca poured her life, with all the love of Christ, into these friends as well. Marca truly had a teacher's heart, combined with a love and burden for people - that they would have the chance to know Jesus Christ - and took the opportunity to join in with Reston Bible Church's English as a Second Language classes. Marca loved her students and her students loved her. Once again, she took the talents and gifts God gave her, and used them in pouring out her life into her students. When, toward the end, Marca was unable to teach, her students regularly asked about Marca's health and offered their thoughts and prayers - what a beautiful picture of the love bond she had developed with so many. On October 21, 2014, after ten months of the bravest battle against ovarian cancer, Marca's body succumbed to the disease. Her husband and most of her children were by her side. Up to just hours before passing, Marca was able to communicate, and with that time she shared some fun stories and memories, asked for songs and Bible verses, and listened to our fervent prayers of praise and supplication. In reflecting on her life, I can almost hear the Lord's words when she arrived to her new eternal home in glory, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!"