Margaret Ellen Koppenhaver

MARGARET ELLEN KOPPENHAVER

Mount Vernon

Margaret Ellen Koppenhaver, 85, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Celebration of Life: 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, rural Mount Vernon. Burial at a later date at Linn Grove Cemetery.

Margaret's family requests that guests attending the visitation and service wear face masks and social distance whenever possible.

Family and friends unable to attend the Celebration of Life are invited to watch via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Margaret's Tribute Wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.

Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Donald; children, Gary (Kay) Koppenhaver, Karol (Aaron Franck) Koppenhaver, Scott (Lori) Koppenhaver and Ann (Mike O'Brien) Koppenhaver; and grandchildren, Brent (Sara) Koppenhaver, Leslie (Tyler) Johnson, Ross (Rachel) Koppenhaver, Kelly (Jarod King) Nelson, Talia (Chad) Breidinger, Jeremy Koppenhaver, Tyler Koppenhaver, Korey Koppenhaver, Jenna (Brice) Steiner, Elliot Koppenhaver, Aarika (Alex Hovey) Koppenhaver and Beau (Allie L'Homme) Rolland.

Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Taylor and Courtney Franck, Trulie Breidinger, Cora, Calvin and Carter Koppenhaver, Sylvia and Alan Johnson, and Kaydence Koppenhaver; a great-granddaughter on the way; brother, Charles Martin; sister-in-law, Becky Martin; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Wayne Martin; and sister, Ruth Switzer.

Margaret was born Aug. 1, 1936, the daughter of Raymond and Gladys (Strother) Martin. She grew up in the Martelle area, attending Martelle High School and the University of Iowa. Margaret married Donald Koppenhaver on June 15, 1953, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua.

Family, faith and community were central to Margaret's life. She was a lifelong member of Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, where she began playing the piano at 14 years old and continued as organist her entire life. She was instrumental in the life of the church, serving as an elder, Sunday School teacher and with the Linn Grove Ladies Aid. Margaret also worked as a secretary for attorney RB Wolfe, as Mount Vernon High School library assistant and as administrative assistant for Don in his CPA practice. She served on the Mount Vernon School Board for 10 years, was a member of the New Century Club and volunteered at Hallmark Care Center, playing music for many years.

Margaret's list of notable achievements begins with her family. Being a wife, mother and grandmother were her favorite titles, and she wore them with great pride. She was a wonderful cook and always had a meal for whomever visited. There was always a ham sandwich to anyone who stopped in. Many considered her a grandma of their own because of her loving kindness for everyone. Margaret's family and friends will greatly miss her.

Please direct all memorials to Linn Grove Presbyterian Church.