HEIDEMARIE IRENE TUNLEY
Heidemarie Irene Tunley of Las Vegas, NV. Beloved Wife, Mother and Grandmother died on Jan 21,2022 at her home. She was born in Dudweiler, Germany, on Feb 14th, 1943, to Lena Horbach. Heidemarie graduated from High School in Saarbrucken, Germany and later the La Salle Inst. with an associate degree in Interior Design and Decorating.
She married USAF AIC Christopher Tunley Sr. on Jan 18,1963, and they had two children, son Christopher Jr and daughter Kimberly.
She enthusiastically embraced her role as a USAF Dependent Wife caring for her husband and children as the Airforce sent them on assignments both overseas and stateside including tours in Germany, England, and Holland. She lovingly cared for her husband and children during all these assignments and bravely withstood the disruption and anxiety of having all the family's household goods and worldly possessions packed up and shipped across the Atlantic five times as well as the movements within the US. Her husband retired from the Airforce in 1982 and was hired by a DOD contractor to work in Saudi Arabia. Heidemarie joined him there after putting the household goods in storage, renting the house, and arranging for schools and boarding for her two teenagers. She returned to the US before the end of the contract, sold the house in Layton, Utah, arranged for the movement of all the family's possessions to the Las Vegas area where she purchased a house, and a car and everything else necessary to establish a home in Henderson. Her husband completed his work in Saudi Arabia, returning in December 1988 to a loving wife, a beautiful home and a precious little dachshund called Julchen. The final move for Heidemarie was made in 1999 when the house in Henderson was sold and the home in south Las Vegas was established. Heidemarie now retired from the workforce had time to further enjoy her first grandchild, Zachery, league bowling (average in the 190" s), walking at Sunset Park and the Pitman Wash with her special friend, Susan and daily chats with her oldest friend, Elfriede. After moving to south Las Vegas, she continued with her hobbies of knitting and embroidery as well as caring for a new grandson, Christopher III during the day after he was born in 2004. She was always so happy and grateful that both her children and their families lived here. Being a fantastic cook in the German, Italian and Austrian styles she hosted many family feasts on holidays and other occasions using her much enjoyed Aga Stove to its full capabilities!
Heidemarie, apart from being a homemaker, wife and mother had a variety of jobs along the way. Whilst in Las Vegas in the 70" s she worked as an interior decorator for J.C. Penny's, nothing very exciting she always said just carpets and drapes, and then as a waitress at The Alpine Village Inn on Paradise Rd. Her favorite job of all times was as an English Teacher for 40 little ones in a Saudi Arabian Primary School. In no time at all she knew all their names and Miss Heide as she was called could do no wrong! After returning to the USA she went back to working at The Alpine now as a manager and later a part owner staying there until they closed in the late 90's. During the tours in Europe, she enjoyed skiing with the family in Switzerland, Austria and Germany and singing and dancing with the other military wives in the Follies, a show staged for the entertainment of the service members and their families Heidemarie lived her life following German Haus Rules and expected all of her family to follow them too!
If you turn it on, turn it off. If you open it, close it. If you move it, put it back. If you borrow it, return it. If you break it, repair it. If you make a mess, clean it up. If it is none of your concern, keep it that way!! Heidemarie is survived by her husband, Christopher Sr., her children, Christopher Jr and Kimberly, and her grandsons Zachery (son of Kimberly and former son -in-law Lance), and Christopher III and Gabriel (sons of Christopher Jr and daughter-in-law Michelle).