Irmgard Maria Wachter Obituary (1936 - 2019)

Our beloved mother, Irmgard Maria Wachter passed away on April 23rd, 2019 in Seattle, WA surrounded by her family. A beautiful, loving and graceful woman, wife and mother she touched all who knew her. She is finally at the side of the love of her life and husband, James F. Wachter most likely playing golf together on the greenest courses heaven can offer. Born February 5th 1936 in Koln, Germany to Walter and Anna Hans she was the youngest of two daughters. Even living through WW2 as a young girl in Germany she has fond memories of her childhood and family and was very close to her sister through life. Irmgard graduated with a degree in Art History from the University of Koln. She spent two years in New Jersey living with her Aunt going to school learning language interpretation. In September of 1957 when she was no longer able to renew her Visa she had to go back to Germany. That journey home on the cruise ship changed her life forever. She met the man of her dreams, her "Lovie", Jim. Jim was starting a trip through Europe with his brother before he started his Air Force training. Dad affectionately called Irmgard his Sweet Baboo which became the name of their custom built sail boat about 20 years later. As soon as Irmgard returned to Germany she went to Paris for several months as an Au Pair. Jim met up with her there again at the end of his travels and the rest is history. From Lackland Air Force base on March 25th, 1958 they were married by proxy over the phone while she was still in Paris. Irmgard was finally able to join him in Texas and they had a personal ceremony December 6th 1958. They transferred to the Air Force Base in Spokane, WA where their son, Peter was born in 1961. In 1962 moved to Seattle and Irmgard worked in the French Pavilion at the World's Fair while Jim was in Korea for one year. Their daughter, Anette was born in 1966 when they lived in the Mount Baker neighborhood and in the mid- seventies they moved to their waterfront home on Lake Washington. Irmgard and Jim were very active and she learned to snow ski, water ski, sail, play tennis and golf very well. They were members of the Seattle Tennis Club, Broadmoor Golf Club and wintered in Palm Desert at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club until Jim passed away in 2010. Irmgard worked alongside Jim in their retail fabric store business for 30 years until they retired and travelled the world playing golf. She was a docent of the Seattle Art Museum for over 40 years receiving honors and also was a docent at The Living Desert in CA during their snowbird months. Irmgard's heart was broken at the death of her "Lovie" in 2010. With family by her side this week she was happy to finally join him. Irmgard is survived by her son and daughter, Peter and Anette; two grandchildren, Jimmy and George; and niece Suzanne. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. A private ceremony will be held on April 29, 2019. Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life on Friday May 3, 2019 at 2:00pm at The Seattle Tennis Club Ballroom 922 McGilvra Blvd E, Seattle, 98112 In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Irmgard's name to NW Parkinson's Foundation https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E11576&id=8 Hoffner Fisher & Harvey Guestbook at harveyfuneral.com