Margaret June Kwarcinski, 84, of Waterford and formerly Burlington and Mountain Home, Arkansas, joined her Savior and passed away with family at her side on Dec. 22, 2021, at Waterford Senior Living in Waterford.
Margaret “Peggy” was born April 20, 1937, in Chicago, to Margaret (nee Riddel) and Harry Klepsteen. Her early years were spent in Chicago, where she attended Mozart Grammar School and Foreman High School. She also attended Beloit College in Beloit. She married Richard Robert Kwarcinski on Aug. 30, 1958, in Chicago and was blessed with 60 years of marriage. Margaret spent most of her life living in Illinois, but retired to Mountain Home, Arkansas before moving to Wisconsin to be near family in 2012.
Margaret will be remembered for her service, and love of family and friends. She adored animals, especially her many dogs. A passionate advocate for animal rescue, she was a long-time volunteer with the Humane Society, fostered many dogs and cats in her home, and shared her beloved pets at local fairs and nursing homes. In church, she sang in the choir and with the Glory Singers, prepared food and fed the needy, and supported missionaries and youth ministries. She was a lively Girl Scout leader for many years. She enjoyed camping, Bible studies, travelling to see family, and various pursuits in art and crafts including her own decorative candle making business, painting, crocheting, and ceramics. She cherished her retirement years in Arkansas with long-time friends and fellow church members, and was often found walking her dogs, planting and tending her flowers, or on her pontoon boat for some swimming and picnicking.
Margaret was employed by Ampex in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and was known as “Ms. K” at Winston Churchill School, Hoffman Estates, Iillinois where she was the school librarian for years. She also worked for Motorola for 18 years at numerous northern Illinois locations in systems documentation and inspection for various cell phone lines.
Margaret is survived by children, Kathy (Jeff) Wills of Burlington, Kurt (Laurie) Kwarcinski of Temple, Texas and Scott (Monica) Kwarcinski of Newtown, Connecticut; grandchildren Hannah, Ethan and Katya Wills, and Connor and Alexa Kwarcinski; brothers Harry (Carol) Klepsteen of Florida and Guy Klepsteen of Iowa; many special nieces, nephews, and friends. Margaret and her husband Richard were loving foster parents to Betty, Valerie and Shannon.
She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Robert Kwarcinski; parents Margaret and Harry Klepsteen, and Barbara Ann Booe, Harriet and Frank Kwarcinski, Nancy Klepsteen, and Virginia and Eugene Cordak.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Waterford Senior Living and Compassionate Care Hospice for all their support, care, and compassion.
A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at NorthBridge Church, 18724 IL Route 173, Antioch, Illinois with a gathering from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and a service at 12 p.m. She will be interred with her husband at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove at a later time.
Memorials can be made to Lakeland Animal Shelter in Elkhorn, in honor of Margaret and her love for animals.
Services have been entrusted to Integrity Funeral Services. Well-wishers may visit www.integrityfunerals.net.