Marlies "Lisa" Wight

Marlies Lisa Wight, 63, a former teacher, died of a brain tumor on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at Peace Hospice.A memorial service will be held at the OConnor Memorial Chapel on Friday, January 6, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Marlies Lisa Wight, 63, of Great Falls, passed away peacefully from a Glioblastoma brain tumor on December 31st, 2011.Lisa was born on June 29, 1948 in Stade, Germany to Helmut and Erna Gliewe.On April 17, 1959, when Lisa was 11 years old, the family immigrated to Great Falls from Germany with only the belongings that could fit in a shoebox.With the help of others and the books of Dick and Jane, she learned the English language.This helped to pave the way to her future of teaching others within the Great Falls School District. Lisa went to High School at CMR and graduated in 1967 and then went on to the College of Great Falls where she received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education and had worked her way through college at Buttreys bakery decorating wedding cakes.On December 28, 1968, Lisa married her sweetheart of 43 years, Robert Bob Wight.The first teaching job she had was at Chief Joseph Elementary School, then Riverview Elementary School and also Lincoln Elementary School.On December 8, 1973, Bob and Lisa welcomed their first born daughter, Alicia into the world.Four years later on December 23, 1977, their second daughter Jennifer was born. In 1988, the Wight family moved to San Diego, California and returned back to Montana exactly one year to the date.Upon their return, Lisa resumed teaching second and fourth grade at Chief Joseph Elementary School. She was part of the team at Chief Joseph that had received the No Child Left Behind National Blue Ribbon school award of excellence for one of 415 schools nationwide.Lisa enjoyed her students and had a passion to help each child achieve greatness to the best of their ability which gave her the Teacher of the Week award.Lisa was a member and donated most of her time with the MEA-MFT Representative Assembly Delegate, GFEA Teacher Rights Committee, GFEA Faculty Representative, NEA Representative, Social Committee and CARE coordinator at Chief Joseph, Curriculum Adoption Committees, ambassador of Great Falls Teachers Credit Union, NS Montana Retired Education Association, and NAEP Testing along with many others.Her dedication of teaching started in the early morning and went to late nights correcting papers.In 2005, after 33 years of dedication, Lisa retired and became business partners with her daughter Jennifer owning Missouri Breaks Coffeehouse on Smelter Ave in 2005. Coffee became her passion and she was always on the lookout for the perfect white chocolate mocha.The business was sold in 2008.From 2008 to current, Lisa continued to be a part of the NAEP Testing that took her around the state testing elementary students. During her life she had a dedication to her husband, daughters, family and friends.She had a way of touching each life she came into contact with.There were many moments spent with her friends at luncheon, playing with the Bunco members and traveling.Her excitement of Corvettes led to becoming President of the Electric City Corvette Club.Through Lisas leadership, this club donated money and time to local nonprofits including Meals on Wheels and others.The Wight Family was always on the go and she was always leading the pack.In March of 2011, Lisa was diagnosed with a stage four Glioblastoma brain tumor.She received treatment at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.Lisa had received a large network of support from friends and community through this journey.May your next journey be as organized as this one.Always feel the wind in your hair while driving the Corvette.Survivors include her husband Bob Wight of Great Falls, daughter Alicia (Dan) Stebbins and granddaughter of Billings, daughter Jennifer (Bob) Koch of Bozeman, parents Helmut and Erna Gliewe of Great Falls, brother Klaus (Kathy) Gliewe of Helena, a brother, Andy Gliewe of Great Falls.In lieu of gifts and flowers donations can be made at Great Falls Teachers Credit Union,1500 River Drive, Great Falls, MT 59401, in care of Lisa Wight Educational Trust Fund.This fund will be a continuing resource for the Great Falls School District teachers and youth to provide the necessary educational tools for the classroom or for continuing education.