Maggie Wind

Margaret Rose “Maggie” Brunner was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 7, 1928. She joined her brother Bill who was born in 1926. (Bill died in WWII.) Her parents were Anton “Tony” and Rose (Krenn) Brunner. Both of her parents were born in Austria. The family home was on Dickinson St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI.

The family attended St. Francis Xavier Church and Maggie and her brother attended St. Francis Xavier School. Some of her favorite activities growing up were going to movies and dances, riding the trolley car to Ramona Park, and having fun at the beach in Grand Haven. She started working at Riordan’s Drug Store when she was 14 years old.

Maggie graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1946 and attended Davenport College’s secretarial school. She was employed at Prudential Insurance where she met her lifelong friend, Dodie Poniatowski.

Maggie met Don Stachowiak at the beach in Grand Haven in the late 1940’s. They were married at St Francis Xavier Church on June 24, 1950, their wedding reception was held at Polish Falcons, and they went to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon.

Don and Maggie lived with her parents while Don built their new home on the west side of Grand Rapids. They moved to Newberg Ave. NW on May 1, 1951, and became charter members of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Don was a tool and die maker and Maggie was a homemaker. They had four children: Bill, Mary Susan, Tony, and Nancy. Family vacations were spent camping in their trailer on Lake Michigan at Grand Haven, Muskegon, and Holland.

Maggie was very involved in parish and school activities: the Parent Club, the Annual Rummage Sale, the Alter Society, and she established Holy Spirit’s Funeral Luncheon Committee with her friend Mary Ellen Billin. Hobbies included cake decorating, gardening, collecting cookbooks and recipes and, in her younger years, Thursday night volleyball. She loved to can and freeze fruits and vegetables for her family. Maggie also enjoyed cooking and baking. Some of her favorites were pot roasts, roast chicken, pies, paczki, and other delicious desserts.

After Don died unexpectedly on June 22, 1973, Maggie worked part time for Canteen Service and then was the Attendance Secretary at Westwood Middle School for several years. In retirement, Maggie volunteered at Hospice, worked on fundraisers for the Crohn’s and Colitis Association, and was past secretary of the St. Ann’s Guild. Maggie and her dear friend, Dodie Poniatowski, started the “Garden Angels” at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Every Wednesday morning from April through October, Maggie, Dodie, and a team of “Angels” would plant and tend the flowers on the grounds of Holy Spirit. Gardening was something Maggie truly enjoyed. She would spend hours at home working in her flower garden. It was the envy of the neighborhood.

Maggie re-married in 1982 to Willie Wind. Willie was from Chicago, so she lived there for two years until Willie retired. After his retirement, they made their home on Newberg Ave. NW. Willie and Maggie loved to travel, spend time with family and friends, and attend their grandchildren’s school and sporting events. Willie passed away in 1990.

In her later years, Maggie, Dodie, and their many friends continued to take trips to the casinos up north, play cards, and enjoy their friendships. She also spent time with her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 2018 Maggie fell while gardening at home and broke her hip. After surgery and rehab, she made her home at St. Ann’s.

Margaret “Maggie” Rose Wind age 96 of Grand Rapids, Michigan passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024. She was preceded in death by her, first husband Donald Stachowiak; second husband William Wind; parents Anton and Rose Brunner; brother William Brunner; son-in-law Lawrence Wilson II; and grandson Lawrence Wilson III. Surviving are her children Bill & Marti Stachowiak; Mary Susan Stachowiak; Tony & Deb Stachowiak; and Nancy Wilson. Also surviving are her stepchildren; Mike & Marla Wind and Barb & Mark Moran, 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 11:00 am at Holy Spirit Church. 2230 Lake Michigan Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:00 at the Church. Family graveside services at Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), Parkinson’s Foundation of Michigan, St. Ann’s Home, or Emmanuel Hospice. The family would like to thank the wonderful Sisters, Nurses, and Staff at St. Ann’s Home for the care Maggie received during her stay. Also, thanks to Emmanuel Hospice for their excellent care during her final days. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to read her life story, submit a favorite memory or photo, and sign the guestbook.