MARGARET MAIER

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MARGARET MAIER Margaret Maier, nee Penner, was born July 28, 1920 and died August 4, 2016. Born in the Municipality of Morris, Manitoba, Margaret was the fourth of 10 children growing up in the David Penner family three miles from Lowe Farm. After grade 11, before completing high school, Margaret began teaching on a special permit from the Province of Manitoba. After high school graduation she taught two more years on Permit. In 1939, after completing a year at Manitoba Teachers' College, she began a 25-year teaching career. In 1960, she left teaching and Winnipeg to marry Edward Maier, a resident of Port Arthur, Ontario. They had a son, David, and adopted a daughter, Cathy. After 10 years of being a homemaker, Margaret began teaching again. In 1982, at the age of 62, she graduated from Lakehead University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1986 she retired from teaching. In 1990, a year and a half after Ed died, Margaret returned to Winnipeg to be near her family. In Winnipeg Margaret was very active. She danced with square, round, pattern and line dance clubs. She was a reporter to the monthly Manitoba Manisquare magazine and she was Historian for the local club. Her activist activities included the Council of Canadians, Veterans Against Nuclear Arms (VANA), World Federalists, Project Peacemakers and Peace Alliance. She was an active supporter of the United Nations. She wrote letters to papers and politicians, made presentations regarding deep-felt concerns to make a better world, and was a busy gardener. She also travelled the world with friends and family. She visited the Caribbean, Australia, Vietnam, Japan (including Hiroshima), Belize, the Baltic countries, Alaska, Ecuador (including Galapagos Islands), Peru (including Machu Picchu), Newfoundland, and Churchill. Margaret met Cecil Muldrew at a VANA presentation in 1991. She discovered they had many interests in common. Margaret married Cecil September 28, 2002. The enjoyed many activities and family events, especially Thanksgiving at Victoria Beach. Cec died on September 6, 2004, but Margaret continued with many of the advocacy activities they shared. In November, 2015, Margaret tripped, breaking her shoulder in the fall. After months of recuperation she was told that she would need to move into a Personal Care Home. She opted instead to move to McKenzie Towne Retirement Residence in Calgary where she could be near her son, receive the health care support she required, but still be able to use her own furniture and maintain some independence. In July, 2016 Margaret was sent to the hospital after a collapse in her room. She was initially treated for pneumonia, but gradually succumbed to delirium. Margaret is survived by her children David and Cathy, grandchildren Anthony (Tony), Samantha, Eva, Anna and Cleo, sister Elma Warkentin and brother Robert Penner. Margaret has many nieces and nephews in Canada and the US. She has eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Neil Bardal Funeral Centre, 3030 Notre Dame Avenue (across from Brookside Cemetery). NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 09, 2016