"Grandma, I am going to miss our long telephone conversations and visits. I have learned so much from you and will cherish all those thoughts for a lifetime. I will truly miss you."
In loving memory of
Margaret Elizabeth Ploetz
January 1, 1917 - November 7, 2005
St. Charles,
Margaret Elizabeth Ploetz, 88, of St. Charles died Monday November 7, 2005 at Seasons Hospice in Rochester.
Margaret was born January 1, 1917 in St. Charles to Frederick and Anna (Stock) Pfeil. On March 25, 1939, Margaret married Kermit Ploetz. The couple farmed for 43 years before moving to St. Charles in 1983. Kermit preceded her in death in 1991. In addition to helping farm, raising five children, and teaching elementary school, Margaret continued her education in the evenings and graduated from Winona State University in 1972 with a Masters degree in Education. She taught in the rural Summit School District before teaching 1st through 3rd grades in Utica. She ended her teaching career in St. Charles, teaching 1st grade until her retirement in 1985. Margaret was named Teacher of the Year while in St. Charles.
Margaret was an advocate for the Head Start program, worked with both 4-H and the American Field Service and tutored many children. She was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, where she did volunteer work, and was a member of its Lady's Aid. In 1990 Margaret was inducted into the Winona County Hall of Fame. She was also a subject of "Elder's Wisdom, Children's Song", a project honoring people for their contributions to the St. Charles Community. She enjoyed traveling, sewing, quilting, gardening and her grandchildren.
Survivors include two daughters, Judy (Randal) Schmidt of Kirkland, WA and Linda (Larry) Fix of Rochester, one son Wendell of Utica, 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, Margaret was preceded in death by two sons, Kermit J. (Kip) and Bruce, her parents, one brother and one sister.
Funeral Services will be 11 AM Saturday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Hart officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery in St. Charles. Friends may call from 4-8 PM Friday at Hoff Funeral Home's - St. Charles Chapel. They may also call one hour before services at the church.
Please share a memory of Margaret at her on-line guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tributes
"Maragaret was a excellent teacher and when she retired we certainly felt the loss of a very dedicated teacher. My father often remarked she had the cleanist room !She was a favorite of my children and they often chat of fond memories of her .. We offer our prayers to her family."
"As my first grade teacher, Mrs. Ploetz welcomed me into her classroom and into her heart. A few months ago, I sent a note to her - thanking her for teaching me to read and for instilling a lifetime love of books. She was the first to share Laura Ingalls Wilder with me and I remember her fondly as I pass those stories on to my own first-grade daughter today. It's been 33 years since I was in her classroom, but I clearly remember her floral dresses, the kidney-shaped table at the front of her room where she gathered groups of readers, the "cloak room" in which we hung our coats and had our mail cubbies (she often let me spend my recess time putting take-home papers into those boxes as an extra "treat!"), the firm tug on the ear of misbehaving classmates, and the warm smile that lit up her face when we entered that corner room each morning. I was lucky to reconnect with her when her granddaughter Tina married my brother Lee Jay. As my nieces Morgan and Madison grow up, I look forward to sharing with them my memories of their great-grandmother Mrs. Ploetz. She left an indelible mark at St. Charles Elementary and on the hundreds of students who were blessed to be in her classroom. She will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family."
"I enjoyed working with Margaret at the Winona County Fair. She did such a great job in the Food Preservation Dept. Sincerely, Doris Laska"
"Frank and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to all of Margaret's family. I taught with Margaret for four years in St. Charles and have many fond memories of the times I would end up in her room after or before school and have little chats. I was always, as a new teacher, amazed at her broad knowledge base and so enjoyed her sense of humor. We will remember her (and all of you) in our prayers. She will be missed by many."