Margarete Rice

Gertraut Margarete Olga Kleinstück was born in Frankfurt, Germany to parents Elisabeth and Erwin. She was raised in the nearby village of Buchschlag along with her siblings Reinhart, Hilde and Hermann. During WWII she experienced her parents’ resolute Christian faith and political opposition to fascism. When churches were shuttered by the Nazi regime, Margarete’s parents defiantly held worship services in their home. The hardships of a wartime childhood had a lasting impact on her, and in adulthood she strived to make the world a kinder place for all. Generous, compassionate and quick to offer help, she lived her Christian faith by serving others, especially those on the fringes of society.

After the war Margarete worked as an interpreter for the Special Services at Rhein Main Air Base, Germany. It was there she met and married the love of her life, Frank Rice in August of 1952. They returned together to the states on the famed SS United States. Margarete and Frank settled in Pineville Louisiana while he completed his undergraduate degree at Louisiana College. They welcomed daughter Margarete during this time, followed by several years in California where Frank completed graduate studies at Golden Gate Theological Seminary and pastored his first church. Margarete worked as an LPN in a state psychiatric hospital to help support the family.

Margarete became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1956. When Frank rejoined the Air Force as a chaplain, the family moved often; to Ohio, where their daughter Virginia was born, twice to Germany, Nebraska, Japan, New Jersey, Arkansas, Wyoming and Illinois. In each new location, Margarete found ways to serve others. She was loved for her work with children with disabilities and as a Sunday School teacher. As her daughters grew, she accomplished her goal of earning a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude at the University of Maryland, and later a master’s degree summa cum laude in Western European history from the University of Southern Illinois at Edwardsville.

A life-long learner, Margarete sought opportunities to experience history, music, natural wonders and museums wherever she lived or traveled. Her enthusiasm led the couple to Albemarle County in 1985. While returning from a trip to North Carolina, they stopped in Charlottesville to visit Monticello, where Margarete spotted an advertisement for Ashlawn Highland’s summer opera. The combination of history, music and beauty proved irresistible, and after a night of opera under the stars, they knew they had found their retirement home.

Margarete enjoyed filling her house with reminders of her homeland, tending her flowers and fishponds. She loved classical music, especially the music of Bach. Her children and grandchildren were treated to feasts at her table on birthdays and holidays, where laughter and love were served alongside her famous pork roast. In her sixties, she embraced the new technology of personal computing and started her own successful translation business, where she worked for over 20 years. Margarete volunteered at the Albemarle Baptist Clothing Center, hosted UVA international students, worked as a substitute teacher and led the Faith class at Pantops Community Church. She and Frank traveled often to Europe to visit family and enjoy the beauty of the Swiss Alps.

Margarete was a loving Omi to her grandchildren. She was always ready to play board games, read books, invent projects and let them have the run of their wonderful Albemarle property, where the grandkids made forts in the woods and eventually wandered back in for a generous bowl of ice cream from Omi’s kitchen.

Margarete is survived by her husband of 73 years, Frank, daughter Margarete Gillette and her husband Tom, daughter Virginia Thompson and her husband Marshall. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their families: Jason Gillette, wife Meghann and children Kayla, Austin and Lucas; Kirsten Fowler and husband Cory and children Olivia, Eli, Maddy and Fisher; Elisabeth Gillette and husband James Brice and daughter Emmeline; Joshua Gillette and wife Christi and children Canyon, Corbin and Arwen; Zachary Eustace, wife Jessica and children Caroline and Theo. Additional survivors include sister-in-law Ursula Kleinstück and ten nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the loving care of the staff at Our Lady of Peace and The Laurels of Charlottesville, with a special thanks to Angela Chambers. Memorial donations are welcome to the Immigrant Families Assistance Fund at Pantops Community Church or to Loaves and Fishes Inc.

A celebration and remembrance of Margarete’s life will be held at Pantops Community Church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 18, with visitation at 9:30. A private burial will be held at Culpeper National Cemetery.