Margaret (Piggy) W. Thornton, 79, of Rockford went to meet with Jesus on August 2, 2019 surrounded by her husband and family. Margaret was born on July 30, 1940 in Moundville, WI and lived in Portage, WI before moving to Rockford with her family where she met and married her loving husband of 52 years, Gene Thornton. She worked many years in Rockford from factories to being a waitress. She loved bingo, lottery, slots and playing pitch and sheep head cards. Margaret mostly enjoyed getting together with family and especially grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Margaret enjoyed attending church every Sunday and was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. She loved gardening her flowers and vacationing with her husband Gene and family. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; Elsie (Labrenz) and Arnold Kopplin; brothers; Bill Kopplin, Elton (Koppie) Kopplin, Harlan (Hirk) Kopplin and Harold Kopplin; sisters; Marion Hayes and Rosalie Kopplin; son Randy Simerson and stepson Alan Thornton. Margaret is survived by her husband Gene; son Timothy (Sherrie) Simerson; step-children Debbie (Gary) Powell and Doug (Dawn) Thornton; 12 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; sisters Ellowyn Kershaw, Helen O’Neill and Jeannie (Ronnie) Rinaldi; sister-in-law Pernie (Bud) Borcherts; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and her very special dog “Bella”. Margaret loved her family the most. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family.
Service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be 11:00 am Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 4881 Kilburn Ave in Rockford; visitation for Margaret will be from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in New Milford Cemetery. Advantage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
