Margaret B. Morgan
MORGAN, BURDICK, RINEHART, EVANS
Posted By: Amanda Lensing (email)
Date: 6/26/2015 at 10:22:07
Margaret B. Morgan, 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Windmill Manor in Coralville.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, with Reverend Doctor Barrie Tritle officiating. A visitation will be Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service (605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City). A private family burial will be at Oakland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the restoration of the Ranshaw House in North Liberty -- Margaret’s childhood home -- Ranshaw House (c/o City of North Liberty, P.O. Box 77, North Liberty, IA 52317).
Margaret Burdick Morgan was born in Iowa City on October 12, 1924, the daughter of Lyman and Emma Burdick. Margaret lived her entire life in the Johnson County area. In 1936, the Burdick family moved to the Ranshaw House in North Liberty. Margaret was 12 when her mother passed away and 18 when her father died. At 18, Margaret assumed the care of her sister, Barbara, who was 9. During Barbara’s grade school, high school, and college years, Margaret became more of a mother than a sister to Barbara.
Margaret graduated from University High School in 1942 and attended the University of Iowa. During her college years, Margaret was a member of the Scottish Highlanders, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, a Girl Scouts leader and counselor at Girl Scouts summer camps, and a member of 4-H. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the leader of the Methodist Church’s Kappa Phi College group. After college, as Zeta Tau Alpha alumni, Margaret served for several years as District President for Iowa and Nebraska. She continued her affiliation with Zeta Tau Alpha serving as House Corporation President for 22 years and receiving an Honor Ring for that service.
Margaret married Lloyd Rinehart on September 10, 1944 at the First Methodist Church in Iowa City -- they moved to a farm near North Liberty. Margaret’s family in North Liberty included her husband, Lloyd, and her two sons, Charles (Chuck) Rinehart and Melvin (Mel) Rinehart. While living in North Liberty, she belonged to the North Liberty Methodist Church and the Whippoorwill Club. Margaret and Lloyd later divorced.
Margaret married Owen Morgan on December 18, 1976 at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. Margaret and Owen began their life together in Coralville and lived there until Owen’s death in 2004.
Margaret had a gift of leadership and brought her love of community service to Coralville. She started many projects to make her community a better place to live. In 1983, Margaret and Owen lined their driveway and cul-de-sac with luminaries and began Coralville’s “Aisle of Light” tradition. One of Margaret and Owen’s greatest joys was dressing up as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and handing candy canes to families viewing the luminaries. They said, “Nothing is more gratifying than seeing the kid’s eyes light up! Even in 10 degree temperatures... we loved it!”
Also in 1983, while serving on the board of directors for the Johnson County Historical Museum, she organized and founded Coralville’s 4th of July parade. The parade began as part of the dedication to the restored museum and continues to be a Coralville tradition. In 2001, the City of Coralville honored Margaret by recognizing her “Outstanding Service to the Community of Coralville.” In 2011, the Coralville City Council asked Margaret to write a book on the history of the parade, which was completed and published in 2012. Margaret received a Certificate of Commendation from the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce for her work as the chairperson for the 4th of July parade. The Adjutant General of the Iowa Army National Guard recognized her for “Organizing Coralville’s 4th of July parade and recognizing solders from Desert Storm and all of the soldiers serving our country.”
Margaret’s service to the Coralville community included serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission. She was a lifetime member of the Optimist Club, and was the Coralville Noon Optimist Club president for two years, receiving the Honor Club President Award. She served as Iowa District Optimist Lieutenant Governor for four years, and received the Optimist’s District Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award and the Optimist’s Most Valuable and Distinguished Lieutenant Governor of Iowa Award.
Margaret served as the first woman president in the Iowa City Noon Lion’s Club, receiving the Warren Coleman Award for dedicated service in Lionism.
Margaret was privileged to be to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She belonged to the Nathaniel Fellows Chapter of DAR for 41 years, and made trips to Washington, D.C. for the DAR Continental Congress. She served her DAR chapter as Regent, two years as State Recording Secretary, two years as State Chaplain, and five years as a State Committee Chair. Margaret was also a member of the Society of New England Women, Daughters of the American Colonists, and Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America.
As a 68 year active member of the United Methodist Church in North Liberty and Iowa City, Margaret served on many committees, taught Sunday school, and belonged to the United Methodist Women and church circle. Many years ago, Margaret served as the sponsor of the Kappa Phi Methodist Club for college women -- the same group Margaret led when she was a college student. In her later years, Margaret loved being a member of the United Methodist’s Joyful Chimers.
Margaret was a 58 year member of the Jessamine Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. Margaret served as Worthy Matron and was honored as Secretary Emeritus for her 29 years of service as secretary for the Jessamine Chapter. She began her membership with the Order of the Eastern Star as a Rainbow Girl in high school. For 57 years, Margaret was a member of Bethlehem Shrine and the White Shrine of Jerusalem, where she served as Worthy High Priestess.
Margaret took special joy in her membership in the Iowa Federated Women’s Club. Margaret loved planning the club meetings and serving a term as president. She especially loved the committee work where she planned fun activities for the whole group. Her fondest memories of this group included a tea party and acting out clever skits. As a matter of fact, Margaret loved to write, produce, and star in programs for each of the clubs she belonged to.
When not involved in club activities, Margaret loved working in her flower beds -- she said nothing reduced stress like digging in the dirt and having sweat rolling off her brow. Margaret and Owen were avid Iowa Hawkeyes fans, attending every home football and basketball game that they could. Margaret was not content to sit out her golden years, so she helped start a Red Hat Club in the independent living facility she was living in. She felt that any reason to host a gathering was a good one and she was well known for her themed parties and table settings.
Margaret was an avid saver and spent the last several years working on scrapbooks on topics such as Nile Kinnick, Hayden Fry, the Scottish Highlanders, as well as her own life story.
Margaret is survived by her son, Charles Rinehart; her daughter-in-law, Diane (Melvin) Rinehart; her sister, Barb Evans; and Barb’s children, Bob, Steve, and Lori, all of California.
Preceding Margaret in death is her husband, Owen, and son, Melvin Rinehart.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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