Mariel Jean Sprague Koberstein

June 26, 1925 – November 5, 2010

Mariel was born in Portland, Oregon. She worked for Southern Pacific Railroad as a secretary and was a homemaker and mother.

Mariel was preceded in death by her husband, Henry K. and is survived by her sons, Mark and Neil, and sister, Norma Kirk.

Mariel's parents were Roy and Mary Sprague. She had a family that seemed to grow larger and larger the more time she spent with her genealogy.

Mariel was most proud of her sons and her grandchildren. Mark lives in Boring with his wife, Terri. His daughter, Rayna, is an executive chef in Saratoga Springs, New York, near where her mother, Linda, lives. Neil lives in Gladstone with his wife, Debi. They have two children, Daniel, who is in high school, and Shelby, who is working in a bank and is a newlywed. Mariel had three other grandchildren, Joel, Terri and Marla.

Her sister, Norma, was also her best friend. Norma's husband, Paul, became a person that Mariel trusted implicitly.

Mariel was brought to faith as a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon and was baptized into Christ as a member of Try-City Baptist Temple in Gladstone.

Mariel has many friends through her church and the Young at Heart club there. She also was happy to know many at the Genealogical Forum in Portland. Her neighbors over the years all thought of her as a friend. Everyone who met Mariel liked her the minute they met her.

Mariel loved to fish for salmon while trolling the Willamette in front of her home. She ice skated at the Lloyd Center ice pavilion for many, many years as a member of the Hooky Club - a group of wives who 'escaped' household chores to spend time in camaraderie and skating. Mariel always loved to travel and was able to visit the Holy Land twice, Europe, England, the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, and many places around the United States. Although one to enjoy friends and travel, she was not the best picture taker!

Mariel spent her last couple of years living with her son, Mark, and then at Haven Corner in Oregon City, where she passed away the evening of November 5th.

A memorial service will be held at Tri-City Baptist Temple,18025 Webster Road, Gladstone, at 1:00 pm, Friday, November 12, 2010.

A private interment has been held. She is buried at Willamette National Cometary with her husband, Henry.

A memorial site has been established on the Lincoln Memorial website at www.lincolnmemorialpk.com.

Mariel request that instead of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society in the name of Henry Koberstein.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.