Margaret M. Anderson

MARGARET ANDERSON OBITUARY
Margaret Mary Holm Anderson, 100, passed away on April 15, 2018 from natural causes. She was born on May 28, 1917, in Dubuque, Iowa to biological mother Agnes Massey and was adopted by Blanche and William Sutter on June 6, 1917. The Sutters moved from Dubuque to Rockford, Illinois when Margaret was a toddler. She attended Church Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High and Central High School where she dropped out before graduation to go to work at Smith Oil to help her family financially during the depression. She married her high school sweetheart, George A. Holm, on November 11, 1938. On December 5, 1939, son Ralph was born, and on June 6, 1941, daughter Margaret was born. For a few years, they lived in Madison, Wisconsin and then Waupun, Wisconsin, where George worked for Wisconsin Bell Telephone Co. On November 19, 1947, son George was born. Then in 1948, the family moved back to Rockford, Illinois, where George worked for Illinois Bell. Margaret loved being a homemaker and often sang as she did her housework. In the 1970’s, Margaret worked at Keystone Insurance Co. for many years. Unfortunately, both her husband George and son George had a hereditary neurological disease which claimed both of their lives. Son George died on October 14, 1979 at age 32. Husband George died on July 4, 1981 at age 64. Margaret cared for both of them at home for many years, always maintaining a cheerful manner and never complaining. Her family called her “an angel on earth.” In 1982, Margaret joined the volunteers at River Bluff Nursing Home and volunteered there for 29 years!
On June 20, 1987, Margaret remarried with the blessings of both families. She and Roy Anderson had known each other since high school. They had almost 16 years together before he passed away on June 10, 2003. During those years together, they took Amtrak trips to visit Roy’s daughter Carol in San Diego and to Washington, DC to visit Margaret’s children. They also took many trips with the Senior Center. Roy was so much fun and was greatly loved by Margaret’s family.
In August of 2009, when Margaret was 92 years old, an exciting event occurred. With the help of Ancestry.com and two family trees with matching names, Margaret’s biological family was found. She had a half sister, Helen and a half brother, Tom and their spouses, many nieces, nephews and cousins. On September 9, 2009, she met her siblings and their spouses for the first time, and there have been many wonderful family get-togethers since then.
Margaret lived in her house on Quincy Street for 60 years. In October 2013, she moved to Independence Village, an assisted living facility. Then in April 2016, she moved to Rosewood Care Center nursing home. In June 2017, we celebrated her 100th birthday with immediate family.
Margaret was preceded in death by her biological mother Agnes, adoptive parents Blanche and William, husband George, son George, mother and father-in-law Ralph and Ruth Holm, mother-in-law Pearl Holm, husband Roy, adoptive brother Warren and wife Ethel Sutter, and adoptive niece Dottie Sutter.
Margaret is survived by her son, Ralph (Diana) Holm of Delaware; daughter, Margaret (Russell) Rudolph of Alaska; 6 grandchildren, Ralph, Jr. (Olga), Robert, Renee (Alan), Debra (William), Kathryn (Michael), and Russell, Jr. (Karen); 10 great-grandchildren; Breanna, Colin, Rayne, Declan, Gerhard, Maximilian, Aubrey, Alexander, Maxwell and Duncan. She is also survived by half-sister, Helen (Joel) Finegan of Illinois; half-brother, Tom (Marion) Huene of Illinois and nieces, Mary and Ann and nephews, Tom and Mike; step-daughter, Carol Anderson of California and 5 step-grandchildren; Gereg, Elizabeth, Pam, Kristen and Todd; great step-niece, Teresa (Art) Carlson of Illinois and honorary great-niece, Patricia Burkholder of Illinois; adoptive niece, Hermine Krysa and adoptive nephew, Fred Sutter, both of Illinois; many other nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Third Presbyterian Church, 1221 Custer Ave, Rockford, IL 61103. Visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. until time of service at the church. Inurnment at Willwood Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret’s honor may be made to Third Presbyterian Church, where she was a member for 76 years. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com