Anna Wuerthner Offik was born in Mannheim, Germany, on January 20, 1919. In 1939, she married Wolfgang "George" Offik, P.E., with whom she would have three children, Rainer, who died at 5 weeks; Karin Erika; and Michael Wolfgang. In 1953, the couple and their little daughter would leave their homeland when George accepted an engineering position with Lockheed in Los Angeles; and later in 1957, with North American in Columbus, Ohio, where their son Michael was born. In 1969, after a long career in engineering, George started Gamco Hobby Shop and Gamco Products. After his death in 1973, Anna became the owner and manager. In 1978, Craft Publications asked her to write a book on her macrame purse designs. "Macrame Purse Fashions" would sell over 150,000 copies in its first few years and is one of the few macrame books still available today. Her intense love and passion for art and creative design became fully recognized when she was awarded a U.S. Patent in 1979 for creating a color transitional square knot (technique) that allowed a clean separation of colors in macrame, as well as in textiles for manufacturing purposes.

She is survived by her daughter, Karin; son, Michael; and two grandchildren, Michelle and Mariana.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Mark's Lutheran Church at 200 Longwood Dr. SE 35801.

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