Margaret Phelps

Margaret Phelps was an independent and strong willed person who was devoted to her family and their well being.

In 1918 life in the United States was very different from what it is today. Things such as women having the opportunity to vote, long distance travel and communications, and work place rights and safety were not realities. A worldwide war was just ending in Europe whose casualties amassed in the millions, paled in comparison to a flu epidemic that killed more than 20 million people around the world. It was during these changing times that Phebe (Chandler) and Marius Wolff welcomed their daughter, Margaret Alice, into the world on October 6, 1918.

Her life began in her parents’ farmhouse in the small town of Lawton Michigan. She was the middle child, and only daughter, of Danish immigrant parents. The Wolff house was the center of many after school activities where many of the neighborhood children were welcomed to play. Margaret was a responsible child, as she would help her brother deliver papers and her father entrusted her to start driving the family car when she was only 12 years old.

Upon graduation from Lawton High School and training at business school, Margaret landed a job as a secretary and bookkeeper at Kalamazoo Laundry. Her life was carefree as she and several friends rented an apartment in Kalamazoo. Many Friday and Saturday evenings were spent dancing to big band music in the local dance halls. It was a period in her life when she had few responsibilities and many fond memories were made to be recalled upon later in life.

One day in June of 1946 she was asked to go out on a blind date. When her date arrived, she was surprised to see it was a casual acquaintance, Donald Phelps. Though they knew each other through a common car pool, they had never really talked. There first date was on June 27th and it didn’t take long for the two to fall in love for they were married on December 1st of that year. Together they would share their hopes, dreams and struggles for the next 52 years until Don’s death in December of 1999.

Life for Margaret and Donald was always an adventure. Over the years they built 3 houses, lived on a small farm and opened up the first business at Texas Corners, Phelps Hardware. For many years they would spend the winter months in Arcadia Florida where they would have a close circle of friends and enjoy many activities such as playing cards and performing small-scale theatre and drama within their community. But their biggest adventure were their many travels. For several years they had their boat (Mary M. and later Mary M. II) docked in Holland and they would enjoy the serine beauty of Lake Michigan and the waterways of Illinois to the Mississippi River all the way to St. Louis. One summer they ventured on land as they bought a motor home and traveled for 3 months on a journey to Alaska. Whether it was camping on Garden Island or visiting the Calgary Stampede, the time spent together was important to Margaret. Her family was always her first priority and she would many times put the needs of Don and later her daughter and granddaughter ahead of her own.

With her strong opinion, one always knew where they stood with Margaret. Though she was a good friend and a good person to confide in when things were not going well, she would let you know if you were in error. She was set in her ways and slow to change. She adored her family and enjoyed telling stories to her granddaughter. Her two great grandchildren seemed to give her a renewed spirit for she enjoyed their youth and their vigor of life.

Margaret died on Sunday, June 1, 2003 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Her husband Donald and her brothers Marius and James preceded her in death.

Members of her family include her daughter Mary Margaret Lowe and her husband Ron of Vicksburg, her grand daughter Michelle Lewis and her husband Kurt of Portage and their two children Justin and Phebe.

The family will greet friends on Monday from 5-8 pm at the Rupert, Durham, Marshall and Gren Funeral Home, Vicksburg Chapel where her Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday. She will be buried beside her husband Donald at the Ft. Custer National Cemetery. To read Margaret’s life story, share a memory, make a donation to Rose Arbor Hospice or to order flowers, please visit her personal web page at www. lifestorynet.com