Margaret Wenger

Margaret I. “Marge” Wenger, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died at 1:55 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2013 at Woodland Terrace of Longmeadow in Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on October 18, 1927 in Ionia, Michigan to Alfred and Ruby (Cantine) Kosbar. She was graduated from Benton Harbor (Michigan) High School, and was first employed as an accountant at the former Indiana Michigan and Electric Company, and then at the former Royal Crown Nehi Bottling Company both in Benton Harbor.

In 1950, she moved with her husband as he was assigned by the United States Navy to an overseas post. They returned to Niles, building a house in which they lived since 1963. After raising her family, Marge was employed at the former Pawating Hospital as a telephone operator, and retired from the successor Lakeland Community Hospital in 2003.

Marge was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, and its Altar/Rosary Society. In retirement, she volunteered with the Pawating Auxiliary at Lakeland Hospital. She enjoyed handcrafts such as sewing, needle working, hook-latching, and ceramics. She also enjoyed camping with her husband and family.

On January 5, 1947 at the Assembly of God church in Benton Harbor she married William E. Wenger with whom she celebrated the sixty-third anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on October 26, 2010. They were also preceded in death by two children, Judith Wenger and William Wenger, Jr., sadly only twenty days apart on August 2 and August 22 of 1976; and by Marge’s brother who died in childhood on April 20, 1937.

Surviving family includes her children, Janet (& Donald) Padgett of Niles, Jean Alyce Wenger of Niles, Kay (& John) Allumi of Lincoln Park, Michigan, James (& Leslie) Wenger of Niles, Susan (& Jeffrey) Schmuhl of South Bend, Indiana, and Ronald (& Laurie) Wenger of South Bend; nine grandchildren including Bill, Jr.’s daughter, Jennifer (& Matt) Anseth whom she raised, seven great-grandchildren; and Marge’s sister, Carol Williams of Delton, Michigan, and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Margaret Wenger will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 30, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Deacon Roger Gregorski of Saint Mary Catholic Church officiating. Committal Rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home, and on Saturday at the funeral home beginning at 10:00 a.m. Contributions in memory of Marge Wenger may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice.