Margaret Mary (McKenna) Malloy, 22 Aug 1933 - 15 May 2020

MALLOY, MCKENNA, WATERS, BUEHNER, EMILSSON, STECKLY, LUKAN

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 5/28/2020 at 13:26:34

Margaret Mary Malloy age 86 of Williamsburg passed away Friday, May 15, 2020 at her home. A private family graveside service will be held at St. Michael Cemetery in Holbrook with Father David F. Wilkening officiating. A public Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be contributed to St. Michael Cemetery, Holbrook or REA Conroy in care of Kloster Funeral Home, 298 W. Washington St., Marengo, Iowa 52301. Online condolences may be offered at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Margaret Mary McKenna was born August 22, 1933, in Liberty Township Keokuk County, the daughter of James Michael and Ellen Gertrude Waters McKenna. She attended Elm Grove School and graduated from North English High School in 1951. Margaret received a degree in Education from Ottumwa Heights College in 1953. She was united in marriage to Vincent Joseph Malloy on August 25, 1954, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kinross.

Margaret taught school in the North English School District and was engaged in farming with Vincent. She also worked as a front desk clerk for Best Western Colony Haus Motel in Little Amana. Margaret was instrumental in establishing the Iowa County ARC and served as president for 15 years. She worked closely with the administrations of the Iowa County School Districts and Grant Wood AEA to obtain educational programming for Iowa County students who had special needs. Margaret pioneered in the establishment of Rural Employment Alternatives which became a model for other work sites. She worked with Iowa County parents, local business leaders, and the Board of Supervisors to secure vocational and residential services for residents with special needs.

Margaret was a member of St. Michael Altar and Rosary in Holbrook and St. Mary Altar and Rosary in Williamsburg. She served as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and Catechist at St. Michael Catholic Church. Margaret also served as an election judge at the county level.

She was always up-to-date on current events, and she enjoyed watching the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Margaret especially enjoyed her role as mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was devoted to her Catholic faith and will be missed by many.

She is survived by her children: Catherine (James) Buehner of Cedar Falls, Mary Ellen Malloy (Tryggvi Emilsson) of Champaign, IL, Helen (Randy) Steckly of Oxford, Janet (Tim) Lukan of Cedar Rapids, Patricia Malloy of Williamsburg, Joseph (Michelle) Malloy of Williamsburg, and Rita Malloy of Cedar Rapids; 16 grandchildren, Greg (Christine) Buehner, Molly (Ben) Nietzel, Ellen (Jason) Luders, Adam Steckly (Kelsey Thomann), Jared (Chelsey) Steckly, Matt (Mallory) Lukan, David Lukan, Meghan Lukan, Madeline, Hannah, Meredith, Emma, and Jacob Malloy, Keegan Ferreter (Mikaela “Miki” Williams), Brendon Ferreter, and Nathan Ferreter; 13 great-grandchildren, Gianna, Ella, Colette, Gemma, Philomena and Chiara Nietzel, Natalie and Nellie Buehner, Otto, Henry and Olive Luders, Everett Lukan and Trever Steckly.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Vincent in 2009, two brothers William (Bill) and James McKenna.

Published in The Hometown Current on May 27, 2020
An abbreviated version published in The Gazette on May 18, 2020