Annemarie Stark

ANNEMARIE M. STARK

Cedar Rapids

By grace, the help of many friends and sheer will, Annemarie Stark survived and even thrived during 86 exciting, dangerous and thrilling years.

Annemarie Martha Burgel was born in Radebeul, Germany, on Jan. 16, 1930,

the third of 11 children, to Walter and Martha Burgel. Annemarie and her family survived many hardships during World War II. Annemarie later was able to immigrate to England and then to New York, where she served as a governess to the Fonda family. In New York, she met and married Gene Stark, so she joined him in Cedar Rapids. Although the marriage was short lived, it produced the joy of her life, a daughter, Beverly.

Annemarie was a single parent, worked full time, and attended night classes until she became a broadcast engineer at KGAN-TV, working in master control. After retirement she was able to devote herself full time to her love of gardening, choir, bell choir, German Club, the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra, and her friends and family. At long last she met the love of her life, Don Buss.

Annemarie was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Ferdinand and Gert; and a sister, Liesel.

She is survived by siblings, Hans-Georg, Eva, Sonja, Hede, Lore, Judith and Arnold in Germany; and her loving daughter, Beverly (Mark) Anderson of Waverly; her "favorite" grandchild, Michelle Anderson of Minneapolis; her sweetheart, Don Buss of Cedar Rapids; and her beloved church family at First Lutheran.

A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, where friends may visit with the family after 10 a.m. There will be a lunch following the service.

Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Rapids Women's Shelter, University of Iowa Neuropathy Research or First Lutheran Church Organ Fund.

Please leave a message or tribute to Annemarie's family on the web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.