Margaret Reimer

Dorothy Margaret (McDole) Reimer was born December 6, 1924, to Asa and Bessie (Gorham) McDole at their farm home in Monona County. She was the youngest of five children. Margaret passed away March 22, 2015, at the age of 90.

Margaret graduated from Dunlap High School in 1942 after attending eight years in a one-room Monona County grade school. Her sister Marilla was her teacher for several years. She then attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa for two years which prepared her to teach in the elementary grades. Later, she acquired her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from The University of Nebraska, Omaha after attending several colleges in the area. Margaret started her teaching career in Anthon, Iowa and continued in Whiting, Perry, Atlantic, and Griswold when she met and married her husband, Marion Reimer. They were married June 13, 1953, in the Congregational Church in Dunlap and made their home in Atlantic where their three children, Randy, Renee, and Russell were born.

After moving to Atlantic, Margaret joined the First Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday and Bible School, served as a Deacon, and spent many years as a quilter. Margaret’s special interests were poetry, writing, and music. She wrote poems primarily focused on unspoken nuances of day-to-day life, journaled every day, and wrote letters of fine quality. Margaret taught piano lessons and instilled love of music in her children. When Russell was in kindergarten, she continued her teaching career by working with special needs children, first in the Cass County system and then transferring to the Atlantic Community Schools. She retired in 1987.

Preceding her in death were her parents, brother Wilton, and three sisters, Marilla Wingate, Ruth Renz, and Laura Lawson. She is survived by her husband, children Randy and wife Sonja of Rochester, Minnesota, Renee and partner Gayle of Omaha, Nebraska, and Russell and wife Laura of Decatur, Illinois as well as grandchildren Grant, Olivia, and Samuel of Rochester, Regan of Omaha, Rachel (Zach) Maxwell of Bloomington, Illinois, Sarah (Daniel) Valesquez of St. Louis, Missouri, John of Austin, Texas, great-grandchildren Graham and Emmett Maxwell, and many nieces and nephews.

Margaret’s family wishes to express their gratitude for all the kindness shown to them at this time. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Roland Funeral Services where the family will have a visitation from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015. Margaret’s memorial service will be at The First United Presbyterian Church at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2015. The burial will precede the service at 8:30 a.m. in the Layton Township Cemetery, Walnut, Iowa. The family suggests memorials to The First United Presbyterian Church or CASS Incorporated, http://www.cassincorporated.org/.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF
Margaret Reimer

BORN
December 6, 1924
Dunlap, Iowa

ENTERED INTO REST
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Atlantic, Iowa
At the age of
90 years, 3 months, 16 days

MEMORIAL SERVICE
Friday, March 27, 2015
10:00 o’clock a.m.
First United Presbyterian Church
Atlantic, Iowa

OFFICIATING
Pastor Holly Smith
Atlantic, Iowa

ORGANIST
Maxine Lyon

MUSICAL SELECTIONS
“How Great Thou Art” by Sarah Velasquez, Violinist
“All Things Bright and Beautiful” by the Congregation
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand” by the Congregation
“May the Lord, Mighty God” by the Congregation

CASKET BEARERS
Randy Reimer
Russell Reimer
Grant Reimer
Sam Reimer
Alan Reimer
Larry Reimer

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Todd Fief
Eugene Sandhorst
Mike Elsberry
Jack Figgins
Joel Weidner
Tim McCoy

COMMITTAL SERVICE
Layton Township Cemetery
Walnut, Iowa