Maria del Carmen "Maricarmen" Neukom

Maricarmen Neukom, 54, of Devils Lake, ND died on Monday morning, February 13, 2006 at her home with her loving family at her side. Funeral Services for Maricarmen will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. in the Robert Fawcett Auditorium at Lake Region State College, Devils Lake. Rev. Reuben G. Schnaidt will officiate. Friends may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Maria del Carmen Gerard Mariscal was born on November 30, 1951 in Mexico City, Mexico the daughter of Antonio Gerard Zubia and Rosalinda Mariscal Rojas. She received her grade school and secondary education in Mexico City. She then attended Minot State University and received her degree in Music education and Spanish in 1978. On May 20, 1978, Maricarmen was united in marriage to Richard A. Neukom in Minot. They established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked and raised their family. Maricarmen began her teaching career in music and Spanish at St. Mary’s Academy until it closed and then St. Joseph School. She also taught music and Spanish in Churchs Ferry for a time and later she worked in the Devils Lake Public Schools for twelve years until health problems forced her to retire in 1995. She was a member of FLAND (Foreign Language Association of North Dakota), North Dakota Education Association, Devils Lake Music Club and Devils Lake Community Orchestra as a cellist. Maricarmen had an extraordinary talent as a teacher. She was able to teach and relate to students of all levels in their education: from the young child to the adult. She published two books relating to music which are used as a classroom aid for music instructors. She was also one of the first to advocate the use of computers in the classroom and worked very hard to make this a reality for her students. Maricarmen was also a woman of adventure, with a courageous spirit and boundless enthusiasm for knowledge, all of which were very contagious. She spent a year in Spain as a young teacher, and in later life took her family to live in Mexico for a year to experience her culture and way of life. Again she shared her knowledge, publishing two books about her Spanish and Mexican Culture. In the summers, Maricarmen would teach Spanish classes for adults and also Mexican cooking classes. Maricarmen was an inspiration to her family, her students and to the community of Devils Lake. Maricarmen is survived by her loving husband, Richard Sons: Jason Neukom and Sean Neukom, Devils Lake Mother: Rosalinda Mariscal Rojas Father: Antonio Gerard Zubia, both of Mexico City Brothers: Jose Antonio (Sonia) Gerard, Monterrey, Mexico David (Luz Andrea) Gerard, Mexico City Sister: Eugenia (Jose Antonio) Vargas also Mexico City Grandmother: Anita Maria Anderson, Stanley, ND Aunt: Marichel Mariscal also of Stanley Mother-In-Law: Gail Neukom, Jamestown, ND Sister-In-Law: Nancy (Pat) Lyons, Brookings, South Dakota Brother-In-Law: Mark Neukom, Richfield, Minnesota Many Nieces, Nephews and Cousins also survive. Maricarmen was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Chester Neukom.