Gilford-----Marjorie S. Muehlke, 66, daughter of John G.H. And Marcelia (Vaughan) Muehlke, died at Forestview Manor, Meredith, on Monday, January 29, 2007, after a long battle with cancer.

She grew up in Mamaroneck, NY and graduated from Laconia High School.  Following her BA from Carleton College she enrolled in the second Peace Corps group serving for two years as a teacher in Ghana.  Marge went on to earn MA and Ed.D. Degrees from Columbia University.  After seven years at the University of Pittsburg teaching biology for science teachers she continued with the same work at three different institutions in Botswana for 12 years.

Returning to Gilford she ran the Muehlke Family Christmas Tree Farm while teaching part-time at  New Hampshire Vocational Technical Institute in Concord and Laconia.  Her interest in the family land on the west side of Gunstock Mountain led to her historical research on the 1935 ski area and rope tow  located there.  Marj was instrumental in the family's 1996 donation to the Town of Gilford of a Conservation easement on 120 acres of “Gunstock view-shed” land.

As a community volunteer she was secretary of the Thompson-Ames Historical Society, a Supervisor of the Belknap County Conservation District and was a Master Gardner.  She played the French horn and sang in local musical organizations.

Survivors include two brothers, John G.H. Muehlke and his wife, Yi Wen, of Woodstock, NH and Richard V. Muehlke and his wife, Martha McLure, of Groton, MA; a sister, Jane M. Rollins, and her husband, Al, of Shapleigh, Maine; three nephews, William Rollins, David Muehlke and Jonathan Muehlke; four nieces, Deborah Rollins, Barbara Rollins, Marcelia Muehlke and Natalie Muehlke; and two grand nephews.

She was pre-deceased by her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be make to the Gilford Public Library , Audio Books Fund, 2 Belknap Mountain Road, Gilford, NH 03249 or to Community Health and Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is in charge of the arrangements. 

A memorial service will be held at the Gilford Community Church on
Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 3:00 p.m.