Margaret Saager

LODI - Margaret Saager, 78, of Lodi passed to her new life on Friday, March 25, 2011 after a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer. She was born on November 11, 1932 to parents Arthur J. and Myrtle (Olson) Quam on the Quam farm near Lodi. Margaret graduated from Lodi High School in 1950 and attended Wisconsin State Teachers College (UW-Platteville), earning a bachelors degree in Elementary Education in 1954. She was united in marriage with Lawrence Saager of Lodi on July 9, 1955. Together they ran the family farm, raising chickens and ducks. Margaret also taught 1st grade for 3 years at Mendota Elementary in Madison before starting her family. Returning to the classroom in 1966, she taught kindergarten part-time in Lodi until 1972, when she joined the Poynette school system as the kindergarten teacher at the Dekorra and Arlington elementary schools. She retired from teaching in 1996. After her retirement, she and Lawrence enjoyed travelling and spending time with family. Margaret was a life-long church musician, playing piano and organ and directing choirs at First Lutheran Church of Lodi. Margaret is survived by her children, Stephanie (Ralph) Saager-Bourret, of Platteville, Stephen (Lori) Saager of Lodi and grandsons James and Matthew. She was preceded in death by an infant son Robert, her husband Lawrence, and her brother, David. Funeral services will be held at 10:30a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH in Lodi, the Rev. Peter Sherven and Chaplain Dan Pulsfus officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2011 at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 206 Pleasant Street. Interment will be at County Line Cemetery. Memorials to the First Lutheran Church Music Fund would be aprreciated. The family would like to thank Dr. Kyle Holen and Dr. William Schelman of the U.W. Hospital and Clinics, Carbone Cancer Center, for their extraordinary treatment and care of Margaret the last five and a half years. You gave our family the most valuable gift you could, time to be with Margaret. We also wish to thank Home Health United Hospice Care of Baraboo, for their great care over the last couple of months. You made her comfortable and able to stay at home. That was a wish for our family and you all made that possible. Thank you.