West Des Moines
Marjorie (McLaren) Gruening, 89, died Monday, September 19, 2011 at the Carlisle Care Center.
Marjorie was born May 20, 1922 in Manilla to Earl and Grace (Gardner) McLaren. She married William Gruening on May 31, 1952. She was an artist and a teacher, who wrote and illustrated children’s books and poems.
Marjorie is survived by her son, Robert (Becky) Gruening of West Des Moines; two daughters, Gayle (Cliff) Smith of Mt Vernon, IL and GiGi (K.J.) Johnson of West Des Moines; six grandchildren, Rebecca (David) Hennessy (Philadelphia, PA), Heather Walker (Belleville, IL), Rita (Gary) Lowery (Opdyke, IL), Michelle Johnson (West Des Moines), Keith Johnson (West Des Moines) and Matt Johnson (Norwalk) and 15 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, William Gruening; parents Earl and Grace McLaren; brother, John McLaren and sister, Mary (McLaren) Graham.
A Memorial Gathering will be on November 3, 2011 from 5 to 7 p.m. at McLaren’s Chapel. Memorials may be sent to the Marjorie Gruening Memorial Fund.
