Margaret Rinderknecht

MARGARET RINDERKNECHT

Atkins

Margaret L. Tow Rinderknecht, 96, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Ed and Joan Hemphill St. Luke's Hospice in Cedar Rapids following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at St.

Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, with the Rev. Steven Rempfer officiating. Interment will be at St. Stephen's Cemetery near Atkins. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at St. Stephen's Fellowship Hall.

Memorials may be directed to the charity of the donor's choice.

Margaret was born Jan. 20, 1918, in Cedar Rapids to Elmer and Elizabeth (Russell) Tow, and graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1936. On June 28, 1941, she was united in marriage to Edward Rinderknecht at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. The couple farmed in the Atkins area for many years. She truly enjoyed the life of a farm wife. Edward preceded her in death in 1987.

Margaret was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, where she enjoyed membership in the Ladies Aid Society. She was a charter member of the Atkins Women's Club. She loved playing pinochle and five hundred and traveling.

Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Her memory will be cherished by her children, Barbara Reynolds of Medina, Ohio, Beth (Doug) Winders of Cedar Rapids, William (Bobbie) Rinderknecht of Atkins, Nancy (Dennis) Deklotz of Shellsburg and Becky (Craig) Barr of Cedar Rapids; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Alberta Welty of Cedar Rapids.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her great-grandson, Jacob Winders; her brother, Russell Tow; her sister, Jean Thomas; and her son-in-law, Philip Reynolds.

Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.phillips funeralhomes.com.