Margaret Rentmeester
Margaret Ann Rentmeester, 89, went home to her heavenly Father on Sunday, November 21, 2021. She was born on August 27, 1932, in Bear Creek, Wisconsin to the late David and Gladys (Young) Wied. Margaret was the oldest in the family followed by four brothers, Martin, John, Wally and Norman, who always lovingly teased her about being their “favorite sister”.
Margaret attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from West High School. On October 4, 1952, she married Delbert Rentmeester at St. Joseph’s Church and were married for 63 years. He preceded her is death on May 14, 2015.
They were blessed with six children, Linda, Gerald, Kathleen, Terrance, Joan and Jane.
Margaret gave endlessly of herself always. Active in church functions at St. Bernard’s and later at Holy Martyrs of Gorcum (currently Prince of Peace Catholic Church), she helped with fish fries, card parties, church picnics, pork and beef dinners, lay distributing and volunteered many years for St. Vincent de Paul.
Margaret supported her children in all their 4-H activities. She was a sewing leader for the Junior Jets 4-H Club and taught many young girls how to sew. Margaret never had idle fingers. She was always busy sewing, crocheting, knitting, crafting, making endless gifts for children and grandchildren that gave her endless joy to see their happy faces.
Gardening and canning were also her favorite past times, you always knew where to find her, back in the garden or by her fruit trees.
You never left Margaret’s house hungry, “What can I get you to eat”, being her sincere question always. Her always favorite chili, cookies, pies and tortes (especially cherry), cream puffs and more.
Packer game day you could always stop in and find Margaret cheering on the Green Bay Packers with her homemade popcorn. So good!
With children grown, Margaret worked for DePrey’s Store in Bellevue and the White Store. She was known and recognized by many people as “The White Store Lady”, a job she took with great pride.
Christmas was her favorite holiday, cooking, baking and always having Santa stop by every year to the delight of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thank you, Santa!
Margaret and Delbert were able to travel much of the United States with Hawaii and trips to Alaska being their favorite. Making trips to Branson, Missouri especially to hear her favorite singer, Daniel O’Donnell was also treasured.
Margaret is survived by her six children, Linda (Dan) DeGrave, Gerald Rentmeester, Kathy (John) Shedivy, Terrance (Vicki) Rentmeester, Joan (Paul) Bierke and Jane (Dale) Heraly; 24 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren and one on the way! Also survived by brothers, Martin Wied and Wally (Mary) Wied; sisters-in-law, Norma Wied, Sue Wied, Sharon Witcpalek and Dorothy Rentmeester; and many other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Gina Rentmeester; brothers, John Wied and Norman Wied; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bernard and Ella Rentmeester; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Rosemary Wied, Jim Rentmeester, Myron and Audrey Rentmeester, Geraldine and Melvin DePrey and Leo Witcpalek.
Friends may call at the Proko-Wall Funeral Home, 1630 E. Mason St., on Friday, November 26, 2021, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Parish wake service 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 3425 Willow Rd., from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass. Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the church with Rev. Dennis Ryan officiating. Burial will take place at the Allouez Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at www.prokowall.com.
In lieu of flowers, please visit a relative, friends or a complete stranger in a nursing home or senior residence. Bring them a flower or just yourself. You will brighten their day and certainly yours too! Remember loving one another is the greatest gift of all. Margaret did.
Margaret would like to say a special thank you and I love you with big hugs to her best lifetime friends who were always there for her, Rosemary Carew and Rita Jensen.
Also, a many thanks to Allouez Parkside #1, to all the staff, you are truly special angels and we appreciated how compassionately and lovingly you treated Margaret. Special thanks to Janelle, Jenn, Oleysa and Libby from Parkside, you could always put a big smile on her face and make her laugh even until the end. You will never be forgotten.
Heartfelt thank you to Unity Hospice especially, Chaplain Nathan, for all of your visits and always being there for Mom and us.
We would also like to give our sister, Linda, a big thank you for the outstanding care she gave to Mom the past six years. Especially the past 18 months, with the challenge of Covid and the 24/7 care you gave Mom the past two weeks. Also thank you to our brother, Gerald, for looking after Mom and allowing her to stay at home for over five years.