1935-MARGARET WIESKUS-2018
Margaret Bernadine Wieskus, the daughter of Frank and Winifred (Odenbrett) Kirchner was born on October 6, 1935 in Belfast Township, Murray County, Minnesota. As a child Margaret attended Fulda Public Schools, later graduating from Fulda High School in 1953. After high school Margaret worked for Fulda State Bank. During her time at the bank she met her future husband, Leonard, at a dance in Heron Lake. The couple was married shortly thereafter on May 23, 1957 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dundee, Minnesota. After marriage the couple moved to Petersburg for a brief time before settling in Jackson. After the kids were in school Margaret went back to work, first for the Gingerbread Nursery School as a teacher’s aide for 17 years, then at the hospital in the kitchen, before slowing down and going to work cleaning a few neighbors’ houses. After Leonard’s passing on May 7, 1980, Margaret remained at home, where she would pass away on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at the age of 82 years, ten months and 15 days.
Margaret was baptized and confirmed at the Catholic Church in Fulda. After marriage she became a member of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Jackson, where she was an extremely active and loved member of the church. She was a devout catholic, who could be seen at church every mass. Margaret’s daily routine consisted of her going to church for her prayers and devotions.
Margaret’s favorite past time was taking pictures. You could always find her behind the camera. Her love for photography earned her the nickname “Grandma Kodak”. Family was very important to Margaret. She was an avid researcher of her genealogy on both sides of her family. Margaret never missed a birthday, sending homemade cards to all her family members. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the sparkle in her eye. Margaret was a stickler for freshness, whether that be vegetables from her garden or any other produce.
She was a very generous and giving lady always wanting to treat her friends to dinner. Her kind and generous manner made her many friends throughout her life. Margaret was the nicest lady you’d ever know, and her loving spirit resulted in a prayer book the size of a phone book. If she knew you needed a prayer, you were surely in her book.
Left to cherish Margaret’s everlasting memory are her three daughters Barb (Jeff) Christensen of Jackson, Mary (Mike) Giese of Jackson and Janice (Lee) Freeman of Fairmont; grandchildren, Brandon (close friend Annette Helmich) Christensen, Heather (Robert) Wood, Cody (Jordyn) Christensen, Matt (Emily) Giese, Justin (Tessa) Giese, Jake (Korey) Giese, Lucas (Mackenzie) Freeman; great grandchildren, Danica and Lane Wood, Lillian and Charlotte Freeman and a brother-in-law Ed (Jeanette) Wieskus of North Mankato, along with several nieces and nephews.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband of 23 years Leonard, her brother Melvin Kirchner, and her mother and father-in-law Frank and Julia Wieskus.
