COTTAGE GROVE - Margaret Lee Eklof, age 79, of Cottage Grove, Wis., passed away at home on Saturday, June 14, 2025. She was a loving, caring, and kind person, so adored by her two sons, James with wife, Jennifer, and three grandchildren Garrett, Kain and Kaidynn, and Jeff (Menachem) and wife, Abigail, and four grandchildren, Shaya, Yudi, Miri and Shmuli.

Marge was born March 7, 1946, and raised by her parents, Wayne and Lela Larson, on a 160-acre dairy farm in Viroqua, Wis. She was a graduate of UW-La Crosse with a degree in Medical Technology and worked in the Madison laboratories of Meriter and V. A. Hospitals from 1970 until 1990. On November 7, 1976, she married her loving friend, Edward, and moved to Cottage Grove. When the two boys were grown and on their own her life changed. Business and property were sold, and a life of adventure began. At the age of 45, she, together with her husband, Edward, bought a sailboat and sailed about the Caribbean and Bahamas until the present time. Yes, the two have been in the business of roaming for 35 years. Mind you this life on the various oceans would be only in the Winter; in the Spring they would return to enjoy summers in Cottage Grove. She so enjoyed the cruising life with the many islands and bays and wonderful sailor friends and so many visitors who came to learn the ways of the sea. Her wonderful smile and loving spirit were a joy to connect with, always so friendly and caring. As you can imagine there were some challenging times amid the vagaries of a life at sea, but dear Marge was a trooper - always eager to learn and explore and visit with new folks while traveling through the vast expanse of ocean and islands.

Yet, for half the year, both were back home to engage with their two sons and families in Wisconsin and later, Israel. Her son Jeffrey moved to Israel and married a Jewish girl. Here was yet another adventure for her to be immersed into the ancient details of Judaism. She learned enough to be trusted in a kosher kitchen, not an easy task. There were at least 20 visits to that ancient land integrating into a most orthodox of cultures with family and friends. Touching others was her joy and love with a willing spirit to not shy from the unknown. On land and sea, she was also known for her waffles and sticky buns and was always eager to help wherever their motor home or a plane or seagoing vessel would take them.

In the final six months of life with lung cancer she would often gently repeat how she had lived 79 beautiful years. She left a legacy of love, and we are confident her strong faith has now carried her off to a heavenly home. Yes, kind and dear Marge, it was such a sweet joy to have known beautiful and wonderful you. The attention and care of both the folks at the Carbone Cancer Center of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Agrace HospiceCare were greatly appreciated. Fine folks all. If you feel a gift is necessary donations could be made towards more cancer research. Thank you.

A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Monday, June 23, 2025. Those wishing to attend the service via livestream may do so by visiting Marge’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com at the time of the service and clicking on “Watch Now” in the Webcast section. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Margaret "Marge" Lee Eklof

March 07, 1946 - June 14, 2025

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