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Obituary for Margery Itzen
Longtime Brookings resident Margery (Wollam) Itzen passed away in Crescent City, Calif. on November 3, 2012 at the age of 91. Margery was born August 8, 1921 in Illinois to Walter and Eunice (Caldwell) Wollam. Margery attended St. Cloud State University where she earned her teaching credential. Margery served as a “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII working on B-24’s. She married Henry John Itzen in Herman, Minn. on March 10, 1945. They farmed until 1955 when they sold the farm and came out west to Smith River, Calif. There Margery began teaching as a band instructor at the Smith River Elementary School. They later moved to Brookings where she taught chorus and band at the Brookings Harbor High School and Azalea Elementary School. Margery later taught as a 7th grade teacher, initiating an elective “Models” class, which is fondly remembered by many of her former students, before retiring. In addition, Margery was an integral part of the family’s Easter lily farming business which ranged from 1948 through 2007. Music was a major part of Margery’s life. She loved to teach and required musical training above all else for her children. She was also known to recruit “athletes” at the high school and make musicians out of them. She was most fond of big marches, especially those of John Phillip Souza. Margery loved sports and started one of the first baseball teams in Smith River, which eventually won a Regional championship. She was an avid Blazers and Oregon Ducks fan and also loved to bowl. She bowled three times a week even into her 90’s with a recent 530 series. In 2007, Margery moved from her home of 56 years to become part of the Emerald Coast community, walking 2 and a half miles a day and thoroughly enjoyed her time there. She was very proud that her sons had built the development and felt it was a wonderful place for the residents to live. Survivors include her sons, David Itzen and his wife, Susan; Kelly Itzen and his wife, Debra; Robin Itzen and his wife, Kelly and William Itzen of Brookings. Grandchildren, Megan Muro, her husband, Jose and their two children, Abby and Emily; Neil Itzen, his wife, Lisa and their daughter Lillie, all of Medford; Heather Kessler of Portland; Christopher Itzen and his wife Carlee and their children Hali and Lucas of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jesse Itzen and his wife, Trebeca and their children Talia, Taylor and Jasen of Dayton, Nevada; and Gisselle Garcia-Venegas of Brookings; Sister-in-law, Doris Wollam of Brookings; nephews, Walter “Bill” Wollam III (Patrice) of Prescott, Ariz.; Robert Wollam (Kathleen) of Smith River, California; nieces, Nancy Hazelett (Stafford) of Beaverton, Ore.; Patty Egan (Brian) of Waldport, Ore., and former daughter-in-law Benita Itzen of Brookings. Margery was preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Hank” Itzen and her brother, Walter “Bill” Wollam. Memorial contributions can be made in Margery’s name to the Brookings Harbor Scholarship Foundation to be earmarked for a Brookings Harbor graduate, who chooses to major in music. Their address is BHSF, P.O. Box 7673, Brookings, OR 97415 A celebration of Margery’s life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at the Brookings Church of the Nazarene, 1600 Chetco Ave. in Brookings. Rev. Dr. Gordy Myrah will officiate. Refreshments will follow there. Condolences may be expressed online at www.redwoodmemorial.net.
