Margaret A. (Freeman) STANGE

STANGE, FREEMAN, SCRANTON, BROWNFIELD, MAGNUSSON, HALL, KIMMEL, HASSELBUSCH, GARTNER, JOHNSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/4/2015 at 17:21:31

July 29, 1920 --- June 2, 2015

Margaret A. Stange, 94, of Iowa City died June 2, 2015 at Mercy Hospital, following a brief illness. A celebration of Margaret's life will be held Monday, June 8, 2015 from 1-3 PM at The Kirkwood Room, 515 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240. A private burial will be held at St. John's Cemetery in Clarence, Iowa. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Margaret Stange Memorial Fund.

Margaret was born on July 29, 1920 in Shellsburg, Iowa to Glenn and Leona Freeman. After graduating from Eagle Grove High School she moved to Clarence, Iowa where she met Harold Stange. They were married on July 3, 1942 in the First Christian Church in Walker, Iowa. She was a secretary at the U. S. Navy Pre-flight School in Iowa City and she followed Harold to San Francisco and worked as private secretary to the Executive Director of the San Francisco YMCA. When Harold went overseas she returned to Cedar Rapids and worked as private secretary to the Executive Director of the YMCA. After Harold's discharge from the Navy the couple moved to Chariton, Iowa where Harold began his career with Hy-Vee Foods. In Chariton three sons were born, Robert, Jack and Thomas.

Margaret was very active in Chariton serving as President of the Women's Club, also serving on the State Board of the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs and President of P.E.O. Chapter N, and United Methodist Church Women. She also co-sponsored with her husband the Methodist Youth Group for seven years. Margaret was active in supporting The Boy Scouts serving several years as a Den Mother. She dearly loved cooking and shared her passion with her four granddaughters. Margaret was an avid golfer and sports fan. She especially enjoyed watching the Hawkeyes. After Harold's retirement from Hy-Vee Foods, the couple began spending the winters in Green Valley, Arizona. There she became active and served as President of the Santa Rita P.E.O. Group.

Margaret is survived by three sons Bob (Melissa) of Ankeny, Iowa, Jack (Marsha) of Solon, Iowa, and Tom (Sally) of Coralville Iowa; four granddaughters, Aimee Scranton (Jon) of Anamosa, Iowa, Katie Brownfield (Sam) of Los Angeles, California, Samantha Magnusson (Brent) of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and Lisa Hall (Richard) of Coralville, Iowa; one grand stepson, Jon Kimmel (Trista) of Iowa City, Iowa; seven great grandchildren, Ava, Austin and Hudson Scranton, Chase Magnusson and Mia, Noah and Emma Hall; and one sister Marie Hasselbusch of Geneseo, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Harold; parents; and six siblings, Mardelle Gartner, Bill Freeman, Arlene Johnson, Glenn Freeman, Jerry Freeman, and Claire Freeman.

Margaret was a loving wife and mother, a good friend and lived her life with the highest level of humility, honesty and integrity. The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the staff and many friends of Margaret at Melrose Meadows Retirement Community. Her residence there was very rewarding and special to her.

Press-Citizen - Iowa City, Iowa
June 4, 2015