Schweppe, Margaret Annette McKim (1922-2004)

SCHWEPPE, MCKIM, HEATHMAN, PEDERSEN, CRESNEK, CIRAC, HENDERSON, WITT

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 2/16/2023 at 09:59:11

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
Thursday, August 5, 2004

Margaret Annette McKim Schweppe, 81, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2004. She was born Dec. 27, 1922 near Plover, Iowa to Fred Evans McKim and Leta Mae Heathman McKim. She spent her early childhood assisting her mother in raising six surviving siblings. As a young girl, she delivered milk door-to-door and worked nights attending to a switchboard for a rural telephone exchange. She graduated valedictorian of Plover High School and attended Iowa State Teacher's College. Upon graduation, she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse west of Emmetsburg, until she met and married James Walter Schweppe of Webster City. They resided on the Schweppe Family Farm east of Webster City.

Margaret managed the farm during James' service in World War II. In 1951, James, Margaret and their two small children, Merrill and Rose Anna, moved to Phoenix. In 1952, the family moved to Needles, Calif. where Margaret was active in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League at Grace Lutheran Church. Margaret and James provided board, room and care for rural school children for San Bernardino County during the week. She also cooked, cleaned and washed for several people at the family home. In 1961, the family was transferred by Standard Oil to Las Vegas with another son, Elliott. For many years, Margaret and James, as foster parents, raised many children. She was a salesperson for the Broadway store soon after the opening of the Boulevard Mall. She worked at AC Houston Lumber Company for 15 years, where she began as a bookkeeper and rose to credit manager. During her adult life, she enjoyed cooking, after retiring, she baked every day for Redeemer Lutheran Church Daycare Center, providing brownies, cookies and desserts for the children's snacks. She and James loved to cater gatherings and celebrations. She always relished a chance to cook for a crowd, from her years of cooking for crews on the farm.

She was active at Redeemer Lutheran church, Lutheran Women's Missionary League, American Legion Auxiliary for 61 years and in the Nevada Federation and Vegas Valley Business and Professional Women for 35 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James, a son, Leland Clair; parents, sisters, Carol Pedersen, Zola Cresnek and brother, Jack.

She is survived by two sons, Merrill and Elliott (Linda) Schweppe, daughter Rose Ann Marie Cirac; two grandsons, James William and Douglas Aaron Schweppe, all of Las Vegas, sisters, Doris (Lawrence) Henderson, Alice (Roger) Witt and Dorothy Lou Pedersen; and brothers Fred (Margaret) McKim Jr., and Frank (Kathy) McKim, all of Iowa. Services were held July 24 in Las Vegas. Donations may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Las Vegas.