Maria Luise von Quistorp

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Maria von Braun
Official NASA portrait of Maria von Braun, widow of Wernher von Braun
Born	Maria Luise von Quistorp June 10, 1928 (1928-06-10) Berlin, Germany
Religious beliefs	Lutheran
Spouse	Wernher von Braun
Children	3

Maria von Braun (born 10 June 1928 Berlin as Maria Luise von Quistorp) is the widow of rocketry pioneer Wernher von Braun. Her late husband led America to the Moon while serving as the Marshall Space Flight Center’s first director from July 1, 1960 until January 27, 1970.

During his stay at Fort Bliss, von Braun mailed a marriage proposal to 18-year-old Maria Luise von Quistorp, his cousin on his mother's side. On 1 March 1947, having received permission to go back to Germany and return with his bride, he married her in a Lutheran church in Landshut, Germany. He and his bride and his father and mother returned to New York on 26 March 1947.

In February 1970, Huntsville, Alabama, honored Wernher von Braun's years of service with a series of events including a plaque in his honor. Pictured (left to right), his daughter Iris, wife Maria, U.S. Senator John Sparkman, Alabama Governor Albert Brewer, Dr. von Braun, son Peter, and daughter Margrit.

On 9 December 1948, the von Brauns' first daughter, Iris Careen, was born at Fort Bliss Army Hospital. The von Brauns eventually had two more children, Margrit Cécile on 8 May 1952 and Peter Constantine on 2 June 1960.

Maria was widowed on 16 June 1977 when Wernher von Braun died in Alexandria, Virginia, at the age of 65.