Obituary of Renate Maria Weirauch

Renate Marie (Nitsche) Weirauch was born in Greiz, Germany July 7, 1929 and grew up as an only child in this small town through the end of WWII. She would recall how much she loved Germany particularly during the winter when her town was in full bloom for Christmas Holiday. She would also recall watching the glowing night sky as Dresden burned one night during the allies bombing campaign. She was very successful in her schooling and was tracked to go to the most elite schooling though the war derailed her journey and the schools closed as Germany fell into ruin. She never returned to education. After a brief occupation by US forces her town and the rest of East Germany fell under the iron curtain of the Soviet Union. She despised it and fled with her friend Heidi escaping at night with a bribe to a guard and only a suitcase in her hand, and the worry of being shot as a deserter. She arrived in the freedom of West Germany and began working at a US Air Force base where she met her future husband and avid traveler, Frederick Weirauch, a US Navy veteran and school principal for dependents of the military. Renate always on the move with Heidi decided to go to Canada and after sailing to the Americas, she eventually made it to Vancouver BC where she found work in banking. Frederick lived in Washington State and they had stayed in contact and eventually they married in Dec 5, 1961. They eventually moved back to Washington and had twins, Michael and Tina, while living in Longview, WA. Adding to the pressures of two small children Frederick became ill and eventually disabled needing to live the rest of his years in a nursing facility. Renate moved back to Anacortes, found a job, bought a home, and alone raised her children through high school but not before moving the family to Hawaii not once, but twice. Renate was always on the move. One more move to Hawaii and back she settled on a career with the State of Washington working in the Department of Corrections and Department of Agriculture. After retiring she decided to build her own home and with a group of other families, she completed her cozy home in Anacortes at the youthful age of 67. She loved family, good coffee and dark chocolate, and an occasional brat or bock wurst. NY cheesecake was always a hit. Eventually moving to Edmonds WA to be closer to family she enjoyed the vibrant Edmonds area enjoying and sharing good coffee with friends and family, walking, and attending a pool group which she made many good friends. She welcomed grandchildren and soon great-grandchildren into her life. She lived a good, warm, and vibrant life. Always moving to the future with her catch phrase “everything will work out.” And in the end, she was correct, for her it did. She passed at the age of 92 in the presence of family and surrounded by the same love she let shine in our world. We will miss Renate and are at peace in her passing knowing it was her time. And her timing in life, as in death, was always beautiful. A heartfelt thanks to the wonderful staff at Acacia Home in making Renate’s final year a loving and comfortable one.