Maria was born on 07 Jan 1930 to Maria and Franz Tuchecker. She was raised in Upper Austria along with three brothers and four sisters. Her formative years were during WWII, which shaped her perspective on life. She met Monroe Tuggle after the war in Linz, Austria. They married in Salzburg, Austria on 04 April 1950, moved to the United States, and settled in Columbus, Georgia. Monroe's teenage son, Bobbie joined them there.
Maria, Monroe, and their three children moved wherever the Army sent them, creating homes in Germany, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia. After Monroe retired from the Army, Maria took a job at the Dolly Madison commercial bakery in Columbus, where she worked for over 20 years. Additionally, Maria was a math whiz and volunteered at H&R Block every tax season for many years. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed knitting and crocheting when she was a young mother. Maria also enjoyed learning new things and late in life decided to take piano lessons. She was a wonderful cook and specialized in traditional Austrian dishes, which her children still crave, especially her Apfelstrudel. Maria was a very thoughtful person and enjoyed writing letters and sending birthday wishes to all those she loved. Maria was a lifelong Catholic and grew more devout in her faith throughout the years. She remained close to her large extended family and enjoyed traveling to visit her siblings, nieces, nephews, other family members and friends in Europe, Canada, and Illinois.
She is survived by her children, Raymond Tuggle (Cathy) of Columbus, Georgia, Ronald Tuggle (Evy) of Savannah, Georgia, and Theresa Tuggle Vail (Tom) of Louisville, Kentucky; 10 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Anni Bechard of Georgetown, Ontario, Canada and Lisi Schinko of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada; and her daughter-in-law, Marie Tuggle of Downers Grove, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her spouse, Monroe Tuggle; her stepson, Bobbie Tuggle; and her siblings, Friedrich Griesmayr, Pauline Thalhamer, Heinrich Tuchecker, Theresia Samwald, and Franz Griesmayr.
A Rosary with Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Striffler Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia 31907. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes, 1953 Torch Hill Rd, Columbus, GA 31903, followed by a burial at Main Post Cemetery at Ft. Moore.
If desired, please make donations to your local church and offer prayers for the departed.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made to the Tuggle family at www.shcolumbus.com
