Marianne Strong, 85, passed away October 4, 2023 surrounded by her family. Marianne was born on May 13, 1938 in Dusseldorf, Germany. She was the adored only child of Maria and Albert Bremkens. Marianne immigrated to the United States in 1962, making Tulsa her home since 1965.

Marianne always asserted she taught herself to read in her pre-school days. Given her subsequent success in learning foreign languages, her family believes it. She spoke German and mastered English well enough to work as a professional translator. Marianne taught German to many Tulsans at Tulsa Community College and the German-American Society of Tulsa. A lifelong student of language, Marianne enjoyed studying French with a close group of friends until late in life.

After she raised her daughters, one of her delights in later life was helping to care for her granddaughters. She described them as her "reason to be."

She had a lovely, albeit dry, sense of humor that was appreciated by friends and strangers alike.
Marianne learned empathy and love early in life. Her extended family were closely knit out of love, but also necessity, developing tight bonds living in Germany during the war and reconstruction. As a young child during the war, Marianne evacuated to the east with extended family. After several days of the Russians denying them leave, they fled through the forest on foot entering the American zone mere days before the Soviets closed the border.

Over the decades, Marianne and her childhood school friends managed to maintain lasting friendships even while living on separate continents. She showed her love fiercely and held loved ones tightly. Her daughters view these traits as part of her legacy and intend to uphold it.
She is survived by daughter Carol Strong-Turner and her husband, Joel Turner, of Santa Fe; daughter Mari Ramsey and her husband, Brent Ramsey, of Tulsa; daughter Linda Strong and her husband, Steve Higgins, of Tulsa; granddaughter Elise Ramsey of Boulder; granddaughter Claire Ramsey and her daughter Hadlee Holifield; and extended family including Annetta St. Clair and her husband Ed of Portland and Larry Strong and his wife Kathy of Arlington.

Services will be 10 a.m. Oct. 9 at Moore Funeral Home, Southlawn Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be directed to a charity of their choice, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, or Habitat for Humanity.