Global Ministries is saddened to learn of the death of Marian R. Ziebell
Marian R. Ziebell
June 19, 1933 – October 27, 2015
Martha Ziebell passed away on October 27, 2015 in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, where she had resided at the Uplands Village.
Marian earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Elmhurst College in Illinois in 1955. She was a mother to three children: Martin, Joan, and Michael.
In 1968 Marian Ziebell was recognized and appointed by the United Church Board for World Ministries (known now as Global Ministries) to serve in the Middle East. She spent 13 years living in various places throughout the Middle East as teacher. She is later known to say, I had learned an appreciation for the Eastern Orthodox Churches through living in Belgrade, Jerusalem, Nicosia, and Ayia Napa, that added to my sense of the whole Church throughout space and time.
In 1994, after an extended time away from mission service, she resigned her position as Coordinator of Volunteer Services at United Crescent Hill Ministries, arranged for a renter, moved some things, and made arrangements for someone to take care of her pickup truck in order to take a short term assignment through Global Ministries to teach English in Japan. During her time acclimating to life in Japan, she shared in a newsletter, Curious and impressive also is the Japanese sense, since ancient times – in spite of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tidal waves – that the earth is good and we are intended to be happy.
Marian returned to the United States and took a graduate course of Postmodern Thought at the University of Louisville in 1994. In 1995, she took an early retirement. She looked forward to time with her grandchildren, canoeing, and bike riding.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Community Church, 67 Church Drive, Pleasant Hill, TN 38578, and will be followed with refreshments. There also will be a catered celebration for Marian at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 21, 2016 at Earth Heart.
Condolences may be sent to Marian’s daughter, Joan Gonnoud, 348 South 2nd Street, #4, Lehighton, PA 18235.