Margaret J. Shuck

Margaret Elizabeth (Jensen) Shuck was born March 6, 1926 in Beech Grove, Indiana to Louis L. Jensen and Anna Lena Stahly Jensen. She is survived by her children David W. Shuck (Elizabeth), John M. Shuck, Lauren S. Atkins, Alisa B. Wickliff (Greg), and James A. Shuck (Suzanne) and nine grandchildren – William Shuck (Rachel), Samuel Shuck (Abbey), Sarah Magsamen (Luke), Daniel Shuck, Anna Gore (Dawson), Andrew Shuck, Ella Wickliff, Ethan Wickliff (Rachel), Aleena Griffiths, her niece, Cheryl (David) Lane, and close family friend Amy Metheny. She was preceded in death by her husband William D. Shuck, sister, Anna (Edward) Matthew, and daughter Stacey A. Shuck (Simon Griffiths).

Margaret attended Beech Grove High School, graduating in 1944. She went on to study piano performance at what is now Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in music performance and teaching. She was awarded the opportunity to study at the Conservatory of Music in London after winning a national piano competition. She was certified as a Suzuki piano teacher and had a career of more than 70 years teaching piano privately and at the University of Indianapolis as part of their Community Outreach Program. She was an expert and caring teacher to countless students including her nine grandchildren. Margaret’s love of music was passed on to all her children and grandchildren, but especially to her violinist daughters Stacey and Alisa and granddaughter Aleena. Stacey made teaching violin her career, following in her mother’s footsteps, teaching music with her husband Simon to hundreds of children in New Zealand.

She married William D. (Bill) Shuck, a WWII veteran and Purdue Engineering graduate on September 3, 1953. The couple first lived in Beech Grove, then in Akron, Ohio and St. Louis, Missouri, before returning to Indianapolis with their growing family. Margaret was a faithful servant of the Lord, beginning at Trinity Reformed. She and Bill raised their 6 children at St. John’s United Church of Christ where for many years she managed the preschool nursery. Margaret and Bill supported their six children in competitive swimming, baseball, music, dance, and 4-H. Margaret loved to travel with Bill and her children and visited many cities worldwide. She especially enjoyed visiting Brienz, Switzerland, the birthplace of her grandparents and where some of her relatives still reside. Margaret was a lifetime member of the John Purdue Club and attended hundreds of performances of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra including attending summer performances at Connor Prairie with her family.

Margaret was still performing at the piano into her nineties. She played for the community and for friends and family at her home shared with her son, John. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family and friends; a gift made possible through careful attention and nursing provided by her children with daily loving care provided by Jim and John.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret’s honor can be made to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, or the American Heart Association.