Muriel Bartz was born in Mercy Hospital in Cresco, Iowa to Elias and Elizabeth Owen. Her birth was so difficult that her birth certificate carries a line "Died" with room for a date to be filled in. Fortunately this was never completed due to a nurse who made a backpack and carried the baby on her duty rounds. About eighteen months later her brother, Donald, was born.
The first six years of Muriel's life were spent on a farm in northeastern Iowa near Lime Springs. She started first grade there in public school. Her father died of cancer leaving Muriel, age 6, and her brother, age 4, to be raised by their mother. At this point their mother, who had previously taught school, returned to that profession in the Lime Springs High School, and they moved from the farm to the town of Lime Springs.
Muriel graduated from Lime Springs High School, then attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. While in school, she lived in a boarding house that catered to students. There she met her husband-to-be, Glen Bartz. After finishing school she went to work for Guardian Life Insurance Company in Minneapolis and later in San Francisco.
When World War II ended Glen and Muriel were married in the Presbyterian Church in Lime Springs on November 17, 1945, and within a week left for San Francisco where Glen was in the U.S. Navy stationed aboard the submarine Jallao. He spent 20 years in the Navy, most of it in the submarine service. He then went to work for the Naval Electronics Laboratory in San Diego.
While Glen was in the Navy they called many places home; San Francisco, San Diego, Vallejo, Great Lakes, Mankato, Minnesota (some more than once). Three children were born to them during this time: Glen, Elizabeth and Wayne. All are grown; Glen is retired from Raytheon, Elizabeth is an ordained pastor and Wayne is retired as a teacher from Portland Public Schools.
When it seemed that San Diego was to be their permanent home, Muriel went to work at the San Diego County Office of Education. After retiring from there, she was elected to be a Personnel Commissioner for the same organization.
After Glen and Muriel retired, they moved in 1991 to Oregon. They continued to do a lot of camping, took overseas trips, enjoyed their retirement years and were faithful members of Hoodland Lutheran Church until Glen died in 2005. Muriel later moved to Miramont Pointe.
After seven years with the friendly people and outstanding staff at Miramont Pointe, Muriel died peacefully in her sleep on May 30, 2017. She will be missed by 3 children, 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and many friends.