Marian German

Marian Gant German, age 84, of Neodesha, Kansas died Monday, February 27, 2012 at her home in Neodesha, Kansas. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Christ Church with Pastor Dave Cheshier officiating under the direction of the Potts Chapel in Neodesha, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 2, 2012 at the Christ Church in Neodesha, Kansas. Friends may also sign the online register book at www.pottsfuneralhome.com The family has suggested memorials to the W.A. Rankin Memorial Library and contributions may be left at the Potts Chapel in Neodesha, Kansas. Live as though you were to love forever, work as though you were to die tomorrow. Marian German was filled with motivation as her parents, Thomas and Agnes Gant of Joplin, Missouri reared three children: Don, deceased band instructor at East Central College at Ada, Oklahoma, Doris Tracy, retired instructor at Pittsburg State and Marian, past English and Drama instructor at Neodesha High School. Marian was born October 28, 1927 and past away February 27, 2012. In their household, the Gants performed for encouraging parents: her brother at the piano with Doris and Marian singing, dancing, and laughing. They discussed what was happening in an era when radio shows with Fibber Magge were part of evenings. While growing up, Marian had her own school room with the piano bench for a desk and old hotel bell to ring. Her attention was drawn to the teachers during the day so she would copy them in the music room at home. Later she progressed to teaching Methodist Bible Schools. If an announcer for Sunday Services, an angel for the Christmas program, Marian performed. When the Loyal Temperance League asked her to play the piano or give an oration, she practiced and memorized all the leaflets, of the Demons of Drinking. Joplin High school offered her more performing opportunities as she took roles in class plays, won poetry contests, played in the Drum Corps and orchestra, sang in the chorus and was chosen for the National Honor Society. On the day that VE day was announced, she gave the prayer for the school assembly before school was dismissed for the day. Marians parents sent her to Colorado University with her sister, Doris, who was working on her Masters Degree there. By attending summer schools, she was able to graduate in three years rather than the usual four years. During the winter terms she attended Pittsburg State as a Speech major with an English Minor, again participated in college plays, became a cheerleader, worked in the correspondence officer and as an assistant in the Speech Department. Marian was named Homecoming Queen and married the football captain, Don German. After graduation, Marian was offered the drama job in Joplin but instead taught at West Mineral, Kansas in the English Department. Actually, she was the English Department since she taught grades 912, plus sponsored the school paper and directed the plays. Then as the couple moved on to coaching jobs for her husband, there were actually vacancies: Kincaid, Iola, Neodesha, Eureka, Fort Scott and then back to Neodesha. A daughter was born in 1950, Kay Bunn, and a son in 1952, Tom. Marian still taught Sunday school, was PTA president and kept performing when called on to give book reviews or church programs. Ball games, little league, music lessons, normal activities for an active family filled the German lives. Plus, they ran the city swimming pool in the summers. Mrs. G spent over thirtyone years in teaching and as she once stated her most treasured quote came from one of her students: Mrs. Germans like a timex watch she can take a lickin and still keeps tickin Or a newspaper clipping from Fort Scott when one of her former students had a book of poetry published, Mrs. German encouraged me to write and gave me a love for poetry. In the 80s she received a letter from a public relations writer who had graduated twenty years previously. He stated that Mrs. German has been his most outstanding teacher and had given him a knowledge and love of the English language. While at Neodesha, she had been the speech instructor and chairman of the English Department. Throughout her tenure, and average of ten students each year went to State Speech Contests earning gold medals. She directed two class plays each year plus directed a one act play. She taught night classes for Independence Community College and worked weekends and summers at the local hospital as a Ward Clerk. Marians children were teachers: Tom German resides in Blue Springs, Missouri Neodesha, graduate, AllState basketball, All League Football, and State Champion Basketball coach. Kay Bunn of Purcell, Oklahoma, taught English and speech. She used her mothers lessons plans until Kay retired. Now one of Mrs. Germans granddaughters, uses those lessons to supplement her English teaching plans. In addition, Mrs. German had the following grandchildren: Bradley German, Joplin, Missoui, Kynda Faythe, Neodesha, Kansas: Kortney ClarkSisney, Springhill, Kansas Mandy German, Washington, D.C., Andrew German, Johnson, Kansas and Cole Isbell, Blue Springs, Missouri. Mrs. German had eight great grandchildren.