Maria Victoria Baechinger

Maria V. Baechinger, 84, of Belgrade, NE passed away Monday, September 30, 2019 at the Boone County Health Center in Albion, NE.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 4726 27th Street, Columbus, NE with one of Jehovah's Witnesses officiating.

Levander Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Maria Victoria Baechinger was born on April 11, 1935 in Tripoli, Lybia. She was very smart and excelled at school. Maria was united in marriage to Hans Baechinger on January 2, 1976 at Parramatta, New South Wales. They lived in Australia before moving to the United States. The couple lived in various places around the U.S. before moving to Switzerland for a short time. After living in Switzerland, they moved back to the U.S. and settled in the Belgrade area in 2005.

Maria worked as an office manager, a caregiver, realtor, as well as various other jobs. She was very talented and was fluent in many languages including: Latin, Italian, French, Arabic, Greek, and English. She enjoyed European chocolate, was a gifted artist, and loved animals and telling people about the Bible. Maria was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1985.

Maria is survived by her husband: Hans Baechinger of Belgrade, NE; daughter: Sylvia (Robert) Van Leer of Belgrade, NE; three grandchildren: Jeramie (Brenda) Van Leer of Ord, NE; Joshua Van Leer of Cheyanne, WY; D'Nae Van Leer of Avon, CO; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.