Marchia K. Forber, 85 of Aledo, formerly of Peoria, passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Cremation rites are accorded with Fippinger Funeral Home in Aledo. A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 4, at Fippinger Funeral Home. Visitation will be 10 a.m. until the time of services at Fippinger’s. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mercer County Senior Center or the Aledo United Methodist Church. Online condolences can be left at www.fippingerfuneralhome.com.
Marchia was born March 8, 1937 (hence the spelling of her name) in Aledo, the daughter of Franklin and Margret Moline Forber. She attended New Boston Grade School and graduated from Aledo High School. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. degree in 1960 and a M.S. in 1967.
Marchia was a grade school teacher for District #150 in Peoria for all of her teaching career. She worked at WVIK FM Radio at Augustana College for four years and briefly worked at Mercer County Public Library.
She was a member of the Aledo United Methodist Church and sang in the choir. She enjoyed reading and traveling, especially whitewater raft trips down the Colorado and Salmon Rivers several times. The raft trips were always with her high school friend Betty Wells Platero. Another traveling adventure was to Minnesota with Outward Bound.
Marchia had a profound love for the performing arts and was a mainstay of Peoria’s theatre community from 1977 to 1994. In addition to her acclaimed work as an actress in a challenging range of musical, comedic, and dramatic roles – from fairy godmother to nun to yenta – she also worked diligently behind the scenes as production secretary, assistant director, and publicity for a number of local and regional companies including: Corn Stock Theatre, Peoria Players, Peoria Civic Opera, and Strawmill Dinner Theatre. Marchia was also an astute businesswoman, pointing proudly to her professional theater career earnings of $356.
Her first role was probably her favorite as one of the gossipy Pick-a-Little Ladies in Meredith Wilson’s, “The Music Man.” Another favorite was the musical, “Fanny,” performed with her sister Kim.
Survivors include two sisters, Renee Forber of Aledo and Kim Pack of Yorkville; two nephews, Jeremy (Katy) Pack and Aaron Pack; one great nephew, Mason; and one great niece, Mia. She was preceded by her parents.