Margaret Ann Damberger

Margaret Ann (Koch) Damberger, born on January 5, 1943, in La Jolla, California, passed away surrounded by Paul, her son, and Mark, her brother, on April 17, 2026. She was 83. She attended St. John of the Cross Grade School and graduated from Rosary High School four years later.

Robert, her soulmate husband, preceded her in death, as did her father, Francis Ralph Koch, and mother, Mary Edith Duggan, her brothers, Patrick, Michael, Timothy, and her sister, Mary. She is survived by her brother, Mark Koch, and her sister, Catherine May Koch. Marge, a mother and grandmother, had a love in her heart for the unconditional care of her three children and four grandchildren. The three children include Ann Margaret (Fee), John Joseph, and Paul Michael. The four grandchildren include Elizabeth Marie Fee, Ethan Fee, Patrick Rincon Damberger, and Faith Damberger.

Marge worked for Pacific Southwest Airlines as a stewardess for 3 years after graduating from high school. She worked at Nordstrom as a Department Manager for 23 years before retiring. Marge loved that career, meeting new people every day. It was more of a social event for her.

She always loved hosting family and friends’ gatherings, having her nephew, Steve, and niece, Laurie Ghannam, prepare the meals. As the matriarch of the family, she would dote over the placemats and arrangements, with everything being prim and proper. As part of the tradition, the family would gather around the dinner table, and her son Paul would say grace before they sat down to eat and share stories. Marge was active in Lemon Grove's local politics. She would have the family gather to review the voting ballot before election day. She loved hosting tours of her home for the local Historical Society.

One of her favorite travel destinations was Passau, Germany, where she met with cousins in the area—everyone loved her bubbly personality. Her son Paul was the driver, and Angie was the navigator. Marge went to Mass at the Catholic Church next to the hotel where she stayed in Passau. The priest opened with an enthusiastic welcome in English to Marge and her family. He welcomed her, then thanked her for bringing good weather, returning to the German language for the rest of the Mass.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, April 27, at 10:00 AM at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA, followed by burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum (Ascension Section), 4470 Hilltop Drive, San Diego, CA 92102.