Margaret Greene

MARGARET MARY GREENE

Des Moines

Margaret Mary Greene was born Dec. 6, 1916, on the family farm near Keswick, Iowa, the daughter of James Joseph and Bertha (Nilles) Greene. She attended Aurora School, Gibson High School, William Penn College, Creighton University and Drake University, were she earned a master's degree in education. Margaret was a school teacher for 50 years, teaching in the Des Moines Public School System as well as rural schools in Iowa County, Lovilla, Webster, Gilman, Hartford and Ottumwa. She was an exchange Fulbright teacher at Portsmouth, England, at the American Dependents School in Germany, and at Saseba, Japan. Margaret was an Iowa master gardener who also enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family, which included dozens of nieces and nephews. Margaret passed away in her sleep at the age of 99 on Sunday, April 3, 2016, at the English Valley Nursing Care Center in North English.

She is survived by her sister, Kathleen Strohman of West Des Moines; brother, Richard (Carol) of Williamsport, Pa.; and sisters-in-law, Theresa Greene of Keswick and Marilyn Greene of St. Petersburg, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Anna (Carl) Stites, Jesse (Carroll) McCurdy, Ellen (Howard) Selk and infant Bertha Catherine Greene; and her brothers, James, Frank, John (Vera), Roy and infant Vincent Greene.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, North English. Father Joseph Roost will preside. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sigourney. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday with a rosary service at 5 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home, North English.

A general memorial fund has been established. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.