Marguerite Baichtold

Of Kalamazoo, MI Marguerite Baechtold, 105, died peacefully on June 29, 2021 at Friendship Village, her home of 22 years. She was born April 16, 1916 on Long Island, New York to immigrants from Switzerland. Marguerite was educated in Bernardsville, N.J, received a Bachelor's degree in Education from Montclair State College, a Master's degree in Library Science from Columbia University, and an Education Specialist degree from Western Michigan University. She taught and was a school librarian in New Jersey public schools for 27 years, and at Western Michigan for 15 years in the School of Librarianship. Marguerite moved to Kalamazoo in 1966 with her longtime friend, Eleanor McKinney. They lived on the west side of Kalamazoo for 30 years. Marguerite was deeply involved at First United Methodist Church, especially in women's ministries, the library and the archives. After retiring from WMU in 1981, she remained active in many community activities, including the Kalamazoo Library, the Kalamazoo Nature Center, the Kalamazoo Museum, and the Kalamazoo Literacy Program. Her volunteer activities continued upon moving to Friendship Village in 1999. She was President of the Resident Council, and Chairwoman of the Library while overseeing great changes in the archives and the Alberta Brown Memorial Library. She was awarded The Golden V Award, voted on by the residents to honor an outstanding volunteer. Other interests were reading, travel, camping, sewing and keeping up with her many friends. Survivors include her nephew, Robert Baechtold, of Eugene, Oregon, a niece, Margaret Baechtold, of Sarasota, Florida, a great-niece, Beth Berry, of Glencoe, Illinois, and a great-nephew, David Baechtold, of Venice, Florida. A celebration of life will be held later in the summer in the Kiva at Friendship Village. Memorials in Marguerite's memory may directed to Friends Fund at Friendship Village or First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo. Please visit Marguerite's personalized web page to sign her online guest book and leave a message or condolence for her family at: https://www.langelands.com