Margaret June (Brandon) RIETZ

RIETZ, BRANDON, JORGENSON, INNIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/29/2006 at 17:54:41

Copyright Mason City Globe Gazette
July 7 1999

ROWAN - Margaret June Brandon Rietz, 91, of Rowan, passed away Monday (July 5, 1999) at the Belmond Community Hospital. Funeral services for Margaret Rietz will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the United Church of Rowan, with the Rev. JoAn Skryme officiating. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, near Rowan. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, in Belmond and one hour prior to services on Friday at the church.

Margaret, the daughter of Peryl "Pete" Otis and Golda Fannie Innis Brandon, was born June 17, 1908, at Stratford. At an early age, her family moved to Clarion, where she attended school. Margaret graduated from Clarion High School in 1925, where she received her normal training. She worked for a dentist in Clarion after high school. Margaret then attended Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Ill., for one year on a scholarship. She later took courses at Iowa State Teachers College and Drake University. Margaret began teaching in 1927 at the country schools in the Clarion area. She began teaching at Rowan in 1932. Margaret was united in marriage to Karl H. Rietz on June 2, 1935 at her aunt's home in Clarion. The couple made their home in Rowan. During World War II, she began teaching again full-time. Margaret first taught at the Rowan School until 1970, then taught her last few years in Belmond. After retiring in 1972, Margaret and Karl enjoyed traveling within the United States and overseas. However, their favorite drive was from Rowan to Lake Cornelia to Clarion to home. While at home, Margaret enjoyed reading, embroidery and crossword puzzles. She was also an avid quilter. Margaret moved to the Belmond Health Care Center in 1997. Margaret was a charter member of the Rowan Review Club. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Rowan, where she held numerous offices and positions.

Margaret is survived by her husband, Karl; one son, Roger and his wife, Joan, of Cedar Falls; one daughter, Carmen Jorgenson and her husband, Ted, of Fremont, Calif.; four grandchildren, Thomas Rietz and his wife, Karen, of Iowa City, Sarah Rietz, of Iowa City, Chad Jorgenson and his wife, Angie, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Doug Jorgenson, of Fremont, Calif.; one great-grandchild, Thea; and many other loving relatives and former students. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister. Dugger Ewing Funeral Home.