Gollaher, Margaret Marie

Margaret Marie Gollaher, 86, of Marion, died peacefully Tuesday night at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids after complications from a heart attack.

Born Jan. 18, 1924, in Rathbun, Iowa, the daughter of Tina and George Kauzlarich, was high school valedictorian and spent time traveling the country before her marriage and eventual move to Marion, where she lived for 63 years.

The generous matriarch of her family, Margaret will be missed by her children, grandchildren and siblings scattered across the state and country.

Margaret married Max Gollaher on Nov. 9, 1946, in Centerville. After their wedding, they moved to Marion, where Margaret worked as a longtime teller at First National and Norwest banks. She was an active member of American Legion Post 298 Auxiliary and volunteered at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Iowa City. She remained in her Marion home and enjoyed regular trips to area casinos with friends until June 7, when she suffered a heart attack.

But Margaret's devotion to her community was eclipsed only by the unconditional love she gave her family and the time spent at her cabin along the Wapsipinicon River near Stone City. Her countless stories of life on the Wapsi, as well as the sight of her with a cup of coffee in a lawn chair along the river bank most summer mornings, will be deeply missed.

Margaret is survived by her children, Edward Gollaher of Fort Collins, Colo., Linda and Allen Taylor of Marion and Susan and Russ McDowell of Fayetteville, Ga.; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings are Louis “Sol” Kauzlarich of Centerville, Josephine Diotte of Centerville, Marie Ellison of Moravia and Rose Widmer of Milan, Ill.

Preceding Margaret's death were her parents; husband, Max Gollaher; brothers, John and Robert Kauzlarich; and her oldest son, Larry Gollaher of Marion.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, July 9, at Murdoch Funeral Home, Marion. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Church, Marion. Family will greet friends one hour before the service. Reception will follow at American Legion Post 298, Marion. Inurnment: Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion.

A memorial fund has been established in Margaret's name.

Please sign the online guest book for Margaret at under obituaries.