Margaret Mary Schenk

Margaret Mary Schenk, 93 ½ (she liked emphasizing the ½), passed away peacefully on August 3, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born on January 13, 1930, in Evansville, Indiana to William Andrew Schenk Sr. and Margaret Ann (Haffey) Schenk. Margaret was the youngest of five children and had four older brothers. She had a deep love for her country and was proud of her four brothers who all served in WWII.

Margaret was a 1948 graduate of Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville and a 1952 graduate of Indiana University Bloomington earning a BS Degree in Art Education. In 1952, she began her career as an art teacher at Vogel School in Evansville. In 1954, she accepted a position to work as an artist in the Special Services for the Civilian Recreational Branch of the Army in Germany. She spent 26 months working as an art supervisor of photo and craft shops. She created artwork and banners that were displayed at the Merrell Barracks Army Station in Nuremberg, Germany. When she had time off in the winters, she learned how to ski in the Swiss Alps.

She returned to the United States in 1957, and immediately moved to Southern California to live near her brother, Walter. For the next nine years, she worked in the commercial art field at Aerospace Corporation as an illustrator and she worked at Gompers Junior High School in Los Angeles as an art teacher. While in California, she also continued her art education through extension classes at UCLA, USC, and El Camino College. She refined her skills in various art methods including watercolor, oil painting, drawings, and illustrations.

In 1966, she moved back to Evansville, Indiana and taught the remainder of her career in the Evansville County School System. Each summer she would travel to California to visit her brother Walter, and his three children, Sharon, Steve, and Sandra. Walter called Margaret “Sis”, so his children started calling her “Aunt Sis”, that name caught on, and “Aunt Sis” became the endearing name that she was called for the rest of her life.

In addition to her talent and love for art, she had a soft spot for abandoned cats, and would often adopt one or two of them to live with her, and they brought her joy and companionship. She was a devout Christian, attended Christian Fellowship Churches and was often hired to create Christian themed event banners for churches and schools.

She was an avid letter writer, with no letter being less than six pages long. She kept in touch with many friends and relatives through letters. She maintained a two-way letter correspondence with her niece Sandra that spanned over eighteen years. In each letter, she would include detailed information of her family history, family photos (with notes, names and places written on the back), and she shared many memorable family stories that dated back to before the turn of the century. Preserving her family history was very important to Margaret. She wanted her family history to be recorded, remembered, and passed on to the next generation. Because she diligently wrote everything down in all her treasured letters, she accomplished her desire to preserve her family history, and it will live on through her own words, written by her own hand.

Perry Ryan, co-author of From Haughey to Haffey, remarked after visiting her in Evansville, Indiana, “Margaret is an exceptionally gracious woman with a kind heart and an encouraging spirit. She was extremely helpful in piecing together information about the descendants of her grandfather, Bart Haffey.”

Margaret’s obituary would not be complete without a heartfelt thank you to Lynnette Krueger, for her friendship, care, and selfless service, which blessed Margaret’s life in so many ways, including giving her the ability to live out her entire life living in her own home. A priceless friendship and a gift from God.

Margaret openly shared her Christian faith, and her love for God and Jesus Christ. She once concluded a letter during a difficult time in her life with the words, “How am I? I am thankful in all things, for this is the will of God”. Dear Aunt Sis, we are thankful in all things for you. You are loved, you will be missed, and you will never be forgotten. May you rest in eternal peace with Christ’s love surrounding you.

Margaret was preceded in death by her brothers, William Andrew Schenk Jr., John Francis Schenk, Dr. Patrick Haffey Schenk, and Walter E. Schenk; nephew Stephen J. Schenk, niece Sharon Schenk Atwood, and grandniece Leslie Ann Bell.

Margaret is survived by her close friend and caregiver, Lynnette Krueger of Evansville, Indiana; her niece, Sandra Schenk (Jim) Bell of Greenville, South Carollina; and her cousin, Martha Haffey Green, of Richmond, Virginia.

At the request of the deceased, there will be no visitation or services.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.