Inge Pempeit passed away at the age of 84 on 30 March 2022 with loving family members at her side. Inge was born in Germany in 1937 and moved to America as a young adult. While living in New York she met her future husband, Horst, while his German Navy ship was on a port visit. They were soon married and moved to Portland Oregon with their children Regina and Peter.
Inge loved to travel and found her calling working for the airlines. Initially she worked for the German carrier Lufthansa and later with United Airlines from which she retired after working there for 27 years. During that time, she travelled from the Arctic Circle of Alaska to the ruins of Machu Pichu in Peru, from the golden Buddhas in Thailand to the Black Forest of Germany.
Inge enjoyed the outdoors. Hiking, snow skiing, photography and keeping the yard at her house looking neat and tidy were some of her favourite outdoor activities. Unwinding with a good book and knitting, whether it be a new sweater, scarf, or hat, or working a puzzle, were her indoor joys. Having participated in gymnastics as a child, she maintained close ties through the YMCA and encouraged her children to take up the sport.
Classical music was another great love of Inge’s: Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi… attending concerts as well as pushing the home stereo to its limits playing her favourite symphonies were commonplace. Another pleasure was the opera; she always looked forward to the start of the new season.
Inge is survived by her children, Regina and Peter, and her grandchildren, Reece, Christina, Janita and Zachary. She is also survived by her extended family in Germany and the many friends she has made in the USA, Australia and elsewhere in her travels.
A life celebration for Inge will be held at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home, on Saturday, 21 May 2022 starting at 10:30 am. Light refreshments will be served.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that people consider having a tree planted in her honour or donating to a favourite charity in her name. She, herself, donated to a variety of charities (Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Portland Rescue Mission, Columbia Pacific Food Bank, Scappoose Area Cancer Drive).
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