Margaret Jeanne Veneman

Born to John G Veneman and Bertha Van Konynenburg Veneman on November 28, 1924, Margaret grew up on her family peach ranch near Empire, California with her parents and her siblings John G. (Jack) Veneman, Jr. and Genevieve Veneman (Miller).

After graduating from Modesto High School in 1942, Margaret attended Modesto Junior College completing an AA degree in 1944. She went on to get a BA degree in elementary education at San Jose State College. She taught elementary school first at Paradise Grammar School, and then at Empire School until 1949. She then taught in the Stockton Unified School District until 1953.

In 1949 Margaret first volunteered to direct Modesto’s First Presbyterian Church Summer Vacation Church School Program. The director of Christian Education for the church recognized Margaret’s potential and encouraged her to pursue a career in Christian education.

In 1956 she graduated from the San Francisco Theological Seminary with Master of Arts in Christian Education. Margaret spent the next 20 years directing Christian Education Programs for local congregations and working in two California synods.

In 1973, Margaret returned to the San Francisco Theological Seminary and obtained her Master in Divinity in 1974. She was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in October 1974 at a time when there were only a few ordained women in the Presbyterian Church.

Margaret spent the next 13 years working in various capacities for the seminary. She directed both the Master of Arts program in Education for Human Values, and the Church Community Education program. She taught as an assistant professor in Christian education and directed the Seminary’s Northern California Extension Center. Her leadership was instrumental in developing the Seminary’s Educator Certification and Extension Programs.

Margaret always made time for visiting family and attending family events. She loved researching family history and helped organize many family reunions. She was a very active member of her church in San Rafael where she sang in the choir and worked with Bible study groups. She also served for several years on the board of Cameron House in San Francisco. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively throughout the country and around the world. She continued to travel and remained active in the church and in her community well into her retirement years.

She is survived by her sister, Genevieve Miller, her nephew John G Veneman III (Heidi) and her nieces Ann M Veneman, Jane Veneman (Loren Hughes), Dawn DeHart Conlon (Tom), Jan McMahon, and Jackie Dean (Eric). She is also survived by 13 grand nieces and nephews and their families.

A celebration of life will be held in the Riverside Capel at Lakewood Memorial Park and Funeral Home (900 Santa Fe Ave, Hughson, CA 95326) at 11 a.m. on March 23, 2024 followed by a reception in the banquet room. Donations in her memory may be made to the San Francisco Theological Seminary (105 Seminary Rd, San Anselmo, CA 94960), Modesto Community Hospice (4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356), or a charity of your choice.