Margaret M. Kiefer

Margaret “Marge” Haines Kiefer was born May 21, 1921 in Glenwood, Iowa (Mills County) to Everett and Fern Evans Haines. She graduated from high school in Clinton, Iowa. There she worked at various jobs during World War II, including making cellophane at DuPont Plant. In Clinton, she met and married the love of her life, Clifford Kiefer, and they remained a fun-loving duo until Cliff’s death in 1995.

Marge and Cliff raised their four children (Jim, Steve, Nancy and Lisa) in Rock Island, Illinois. She was active in the Lincoln Elementary School PTA, a trustee and beloved member of the United Methodist Church, and volunteered through The King’s Daughters Lend-a-Hand Circle. Margaret was employed with Rock Island Board of Education as a paraprofessional, displaying her innate sense of joy, passion and creativity to the lucky students at Lincoln Elementary School from 1967-1978.

Margaret Mae loved people, her family and enjoyed her life. She was especially known for her zany sense of humor, spontaneous singing, funny stories, comedic timing, and compassionate and exuberant nature. She was a great cook, who could make a mean rhubarb pie and turn out a table full of delicious food at the turn of a dime. She loved embroidery, crafts, watching Carol Burnett and Lucy shows, and volunteering for her church. She was a loving and delightful grama to all her grandchildren, setting up a room full of toys, books and puppets just for them.

After living at Friendship Manor in Rock Island, Margaret moved with her loving and devoted son Steve and his wife Sherree to Wisconsin. She lived at Our House Senior Memory Care Center in Rice Lake, WI where she was the delight of her caretakers, due to her kind nature and funny sense of humor. Special thanks go to Steve and Sherree Kiefer for their generous, patient and loving care of our Mother, to the fabulous staff at Our House Senior Care staff and to the Mayo and Healthcare Hospice.

Survivors include: Children, Jim (Jennifer) Kiefer of Fremont, CA: Steve (Sherree) Kiefer of Chetek, WI; Nancy Kiefer of Seattle, WA: Lisa Reilly (Brian) of Hot Springs National Park, AR:, step-daughters Pat (Robert) Murty and Linda Casey, both of Clinton, IA. She is survived by 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, 19 step-grandchildren, and over 75 great stepchildren as well as numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Clifford W. Kiefer, sister, Helen (Haines) Wrightfield, brothers William Haines and Wendell Haines, and step-son Gary Kiefer.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, March 26, at Hodgson Funeral Home, Rock Island. Funeral services will begin at 12 noon on Saturday at the funeral home. Cremation will follow, and inurnment will take place at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island. To share memories and condolences visit hodgsonfuneralhome.com.