Obit: Firnstahl, Margaret E. (1927 - 2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Firnstahl, Schneider, Rucks, Umhoefer, Leonhard, Ayer, Cole, Boller, Lenz, Lueth, Johnson, Voge, Woodward, Redfern

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Owen, Clark Co., WI) 5/07/2021

Firnstahl, Margaret E. (1 September 1927 – 6 May 2021)

Margaret E. Firnstahl, age 93, of Arpin, formerly of Colby, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at the Colonial Center in Colby under the tender care of Heartland Hospice.

Margaret was born at the home of her grandparents, Paul and Lizzie Rucks on September 1, 1927, the daughter of Edward and Marie (Schneider) Rucks in the Town of Hull. She married Jim Firnstahl, the love of her life, on May 20, 1948. They lived in the Colby area until the time of his death on December 4, 2002. Since then, she resided at the home of her son, Jim, in Arpin.

At the age of sixteen, Margaret left home because her parents were moving away, and she wanted to stay in Colby to finish her high school education. During this time, she worked at Davis’s General Store as a clerk for room and board plus $.50 cents a week. After high school, Margaret worked at the feed mill in Colby as a secretary until her marriage. She then settled into her new role as housewife and mother, which she said was her favorite and most rewarding job. Margaret also worked at Scidmore’s Mink Farm, stretching mink to earn money for family Christmases. In 1971, she started working for the Colby School District as a secretary for 21 years.

One of her favorite interests was sewing, because of the influence of her grandmother and great-grandmother who were seamstresses. While living at home, she also enjoyed reading and caring for her siblings, as well as helping them with their homework.

Margaret is survived by her children: Sherry (Mark) Umhoefer, Pam (Mark) Leonhard, Debby (Warren) Ayer, Jim (Lynn) Firnstahl, Kerry Cole (Tim Boller) and Sandy (Tom) Lenz; 16 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She is further survived by her siblings: Ruby Lueth, Joanne Johnson and John (Paulette) Rucks; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three siblings: Ralph Rucks, Dorothy Voge and Evelyn Woodward.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Colby. Father Joseph Redfern will officiate. A visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of services at the church on Tuesday. Family and friends can watch the service live on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website.

In lieu of flowers and plants, donations can be made in Margaret’s memory to St. Mary’s School in Colby.