Agnes Fitch

MADISON - Agnes "Marguerite (Tyvand) Fitch, age 102, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, with her niece by her side. Marguerite was born on Aug. 18, 1908, in Cheyenne Wells, Colo., the daughter of Dr. James and Mathilda Tyvand. She was baptised at Evangelical Lutheran church in Mount Horeb, and confirmed and married at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Whitehall. She graduated from Whitehall High School in 1927. Marguerite then attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., the UW-Madison and the Methodist School of Nursing in Madison from where she graduated in 1932. On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1937, she married Grant Fitch in Whitehall. Marguerite and Grant resided in Glenview, Ill., for a number of years, then moved to Lighthouse Pointe, Fla.., and settled in Vero Beach, Fla.., in 1970. After each move she left behind wonderful friends, but always kept in touch with them. She enjoyed traveling, reading, needlework, going out for lunches with friends and family, but she truly enjoyed playing bridge at least three days a week. However, as her macular degeneration worsened, she had to give up reading and bridge at the age of 96. In suffering a stroke in May of 2006, she lost her ability to walk and a great deal of her speech, but after numerous weeks of physical and speech therapy, she made a marked improvement. Marguerite was happy to return to her home state so she could be closer to her brother, Paul and his family. However, she always wanted to keep in touch with her Florida friends and family, and her nephews family in Oregon, and the phone company was happy to have her as a customer. That became her lifeline. Marguerite was blessed to have made many new friends, and especially one very dear one, at Angelus Retirement Assisted Living in Cottage Grove. They shared many cups of coffee and stories of their families. Many thanks go out to Reggie and all his children. She is survived by three nieces, Nancy (Mike) Anthony of Madison, Caroline (Dave) Andre of Minneapolis, and Mary Anne Fitch of Ocala, Fla.; and nephew, Jim (Judy) Tyvand of Canby, Ore. Marguerite is also survived by great-nephews, Paul (Sheyla) Berg of Blair, Jim (Rose) Tyvand of Sarajevo, Bosnia, Tim (Resa) Tyvand of Happy Valley, Ore., and Mark Tyvand and Sam Tyvand of West LaFayette, Ind.; and great-niece, Lisa (Neil) Schroeder of Warrens, along with their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, who died in a tragic car/train accident in 1953. Also preceding her were her husband, Grant in 1974; their three children, one son in 1940, and two daughters in 1943, who were all born prematurely and lived for only a short period; brother, Lyman in 1974; and sister-in-law, Anne; brother, Paul in 2009; sister-in-law, Eleanor; nephew, Paul Tyvand in 1990; and niece, Mary Tyvand in 2002. A memorial service to celebrate Marguerites wonderful life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, with Chaplain Kitty OMeara presiding. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be at Whitehall in the spring. The family would like to thank everyone who lovingly cared for Marguerite at Angelus Assisted Living and the staff at HospiceCare. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 630 East Washington Ave., Madison, WI. 53703, HospiceCare Inc., 5395 East Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI. 53711, St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 5700 Pheasant Hill Road, Monona, WI. 53716, or the charity of your choice. We just lost a very kind and giving person. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 630 East Washington Ave., Madison, WI. 53703, HospiceCare Inc., 5395 East Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI. 53711, St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 5700 Pheasant Hill Road, Monona, WI. 53716, or the charity of your choice. Visitation: Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be at Whitehall in the spring. Service: Amemorial service to celebrate Marguerites wonderful life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, with Chaplain Kitty OMeara presiding.