Margaret M Hartshorne

MADISON – Margaret “Marg” M. (McGinnis) Hartshorne passed away peacefully at UW Hospital in Madison, on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at the age of 84 following a short illness. Margaret was born at home on January 30, 1930 in Appleton to Lyle and Rose McGinnis and grew up in Kaukauna. She was the second oldest of 9 children and her siblings admired her strength, independence, individuality, and adventurous streak. They also reported that she gave the best presents and had the best clothes. She worked at Combined Locks and Thilmany Papers after graduating from high school, and then traveled to San Diego, CA with friends in her 1937 Dodge (Old Steady) to live and work for almost a year before returning to Wisconsin for good. After her father pointedly suggested that some of the older children should leave the nest, she attended secretarial school in Milwaukee and then settled down in Madison, working for several judges in small claims court. She frequently crossed paths with David Hartshorne while eating lunch near the capital and they finally met and fell in love; at the time of her death they had been married more than 56 years. Margaret and David raised their children in Madison and once the youngest reached school age, she worked in the clerical field until retirement. Until just a few years ago, Margaret participated in bowling leagues with her friends. She was a faithful member of St. Dennis Catholic Church for more than 50 years, volunteering at the annual festival and other events, and she gave many hours of her time sewing and crocheting for the quilting and prayer shawl groups, as well as for family and friends. She loved working in her gardens and actually enjoyed mowing the grass and shoveling snow, except when her wonderful neighbors made sure it was taken care of before she had a chance. Margaret is survived by her husband, David; children, Patricia Hartshorne (Mickey Reed) of Tucson, AZ, Paul (Brenda) Hartshorne of Madison, WI, and Linda (Joe) Hartshorne-Shafer of Lake City, MI; grandchildren, Jerik, Alyssa, and Sarah Hartshorne, Martin Sowls, and Melissa, Sarah, and Ella Shafer; great-grandchild, Logan Lapp; siblings Ramona (Anthony) Welhouse, Lyle (Mary E.) McGinnis, William (Georgiana) McGinnis, Thomas (Mary) McGinnis, Joan (Donald) Hue, Rosemarie (Martin) Lake, Donna Farina, and Maryann (Phil) DeBruin; sisters-in-law, Joan (Edsel) Nofsinger and Carol (Douglas) Hartshorne; and many many nieces and nephews and grand-dogs and grand-cats. Margaret was preceded in death by her infant daughters, Jean Anne and Martha Rose; grandson, Monie Shafer; parents, Lyle and Rose McGinnis; infant brother, Theodore McGinnis; stepmother, Marie (Taylor) McGinnis; mother- and father-in-law, Martha and Stephen Hartshorne; and brothers-in-law, Anthony Welhouse and Douglas Hartshorne. Her family would like to thank Agrace Hospice Care for all the assistance they have been giving our parents and special thanks to the entire staff at the UW Hospital Neurosciences ICU for the superb care and support they gave our mother and the family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Rd., Madison, at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, with Father Randy Timmerman officiating. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens, following a luncheon to celebrate Margaret’s life. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of Mass on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Dennis Catholic Church or Agrace Hospice Care. Her family and friends would like her remembered for her fairness, honesty, loyalty, and accepting nature. Her family was her life and she supported her children in their life decisions – even when they gave her hives. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Dr. (608) 221-5420