Renate McGlumphy

With Renate’s characteristic dignity and grace, she peacefully passed away, Dec. 29, 2014, in her daughter Katie’s loving embrace.

Born Aug. 16, 1922, Renate was the eldest of two children, born to German immigrants Ewald and Elsa Poeschel. Both of Renate’s parents came from Germany, passed through Ellis Island and went west to San Francisco, Calif. Her parents worked diligently and established the Virginia Bakery, still in full operation today. While a child, Renate and her family made several trips back to Germany to visit relatives.

While Renate attended Armstrong College, her teacher, Virginia MacCracken, introduced her to her very handsome younger brother William “Bill” McGlumphy. Bill had left his native state of Montana in order to assist the war effort by building submarines at Mare Island. Two years later, on June 17, 1944, the two were married in Berkley, Calif., and honeymooned in Carmel.  Bill and Renate enjoyed another five years of living in the bay area. They had a small apartment and would frequently dance the night away, enjoying the big bands performances at the Fairmont Hotel.

In 1949, the couple moved to Libby.  Bill began working at the City Service Co., a Texaco distributorship.  Bill and Renate dedicated long, hard hours and eventually purchased the fuel oil business.

Through all of this, something was missing from their lives…children! The adoption process was put into motion. Bill and Renate opened their hearts and home to two little girls adopted from the Montana Children’s Home and Hospital in Helena.  

In 1980 Renate found her way to Alcoholics Anonymous.  Bill had already begun his journey in Al-Anon. Recovery allowed them to renew their faith in God and each other. Subsequently, their retirement years were filled with new and wonderful friends, travel and snow-birding in Arizona. Many pets enjoyed life with this couple but their last and most loved was Barney.

Renate had a loving heart and enjoyed reading James Patterson novels as quickly as he could write them! She was an avid crossword puzzle player. She made friends easily and enjoyed a wonderful group of women at Aspen Gardens.

Renate was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her brother George Poeschel; her parents Ewald and Elsa Poeschel; her mother-in-law, Margaret McGlumphy; sister and brothers-in-law, Virginia (George) MacCracken, Josephine (George) Vogt; nieces Margo Vogt and Joy MacCracken.

She is survived by two daughters, Martha (Joe) Arnold and Katie McGlumphy; two grandchildren, Daniel and Alex Tagliatela; five nieces and nephews, Steve (Janie) Vogt, Bill (Elsie) MacCracken, Mark, Marty and Theresa Poeschel.

Our family would like to thank Aspen Gardens Assisted Living for the exceptional care they gave Mom. In these last two years, Mom dealt with a number of serious health issues but was lovingly cared for by Dr. Jessica Bailey, Dr. Jeff Goldes, Dana Hillyer, MN RN CS and Rebecca Springett, LPN. We are also grateful to the doctors and nurses at St. Peter’s Hospital.

Please join the family for interment and celebration of Mom’s life at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.aswfuneralhome.com.