Sunday's Obituary : Garth L. LeMaster (1921-1998)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, February 6, 1998, page 10.

Garth L. LeMaster, Sr., 76, 229 W. McNeil St., Portland, died Thursday at Jay County Hospital.


He retired in 1983 from Teledyne Portland Forge and was active in the Boy Scouts for many years.


An Army veteran of World War II, he attended the Portland Friends Church.


Born April 6, 1921, in Jay County, he was the son of Clarence and Mae (Bickel) LeMaster.  He was married May 9, 1942, to Ora Lee Brady, who survives.


Surviving besides his wife are three sons, Garth L. "Mike" LeMaster, James "David" LeMaster, both of Portland, and Pat LeMaster, Pennville; one daughter, Martha "LeeAnn" Morrical, Indianapolis; one brother, Kenneth LeMaster, Portland; two sisters, Mary Hummel and Jean Coby, both of Union City; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.


Services are set for 1 p.m. Monday in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home, Portland, with the Rev. Jerry Vincent officating.  Burial will be in the Salamonia Cemetery.  Calling will be at the funeral home from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.


Memorials may be made to Boy Scouts, Gideons, or the charity of the donor's choice.


Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Bertha A. Hercules (1892-1962)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, January 2, 1962, page 1.

SALAMONIA NATIVE DIES


Mrs. Bertha A. Hercules, 69, died Saturday night at her home in Richmond, apparently as the result of a heart attack.


Mrs. Hercules was the daughter of Luman and Barbara LeMaster, Salamonia.  In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by three sisters and seven brothers including five who live in the area.  They are Ord W. LeMaster, Portland; Clarence H., Gerald W., and John L. LeMaster, all of Salamonia; and Floyd LeMaster, Union City.


Immediate survivors are the husband, Russell J. Hercules, who with his wife owned and operated Hercules Builders Supplies, Richmond; also a daughter, Mrs. William Spears, Eaton, and a son, Murvel, Williamsburg.


Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Jones and [?]lacke Funeral Home, Richmond.  Burial will be in Salamonia.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. today.


Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Beulah S. (LeMasters) Rockwell (1866-1940)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, July 18, 1940, page 1.

Rockwell Rites Are Tomorrow


Funeral services for Mrs. Beulah S. Rockwell, who died at her home in Ft. Recovery Tuesday evening, will be conducted tomorrow.  Short services will be held at the residence at 2:15 o'clock (EST) and final rites will be conducted from the Salamonia Methodist church at 2 p.m. (CST) in charge of Rev. Dennison, assisted by Rev. O.L. Nichols.



Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Catherine Elizabeth (Lemasters) Wehrly (1840-1911)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, December 26, 1911, page 1.

PNEUMONIA IS AGAIN FATAL

Short Illness Ends The Life of Mrs. Catherine Wehrly At Home Of Son

Funeral Services Wednesday

Last Rites for Pioneer Resident of Jay County Will Be At Salamonia

Catherine Elizabeth Wehrly, 71, is dead at the home of her son, Lon Wehrly, west of Boundary, after a short illness of pneumonia.  She had gone from her home in South Portland for a visit with her son and family, and was taken ill while there.

Mrs. Wehrly, who was the daughter of Luman and Nancy (Young) Leemaster, was born in Shelby county, Ohio, June 26, 1840.  Early in life, she came with her parents to Jay county, and has since been a continuous resident.  Her husband, the late John P. Wehrly, died several years ago.  Three daughters and two sons survive, they being Mrs. John Boyd, of Oregon, Belle, wife of John Marlin, of Ft. Recovery; Alice Stump and Lewis W. Wehrly, of Ft. Recovery, and Lon Wehrly of near Boundary, at whose home she died.

The funeral services will be held at the Methodist church in Salamonia Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : John Leland LeMaster Jr. (1922-1973)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, March 28, 1973, page 1.

County official dies

John L. LeMaster Jr., 50, superintendent of the Jay County Home on RR 4, Portland, died unexpectedly early this morning at the Jay County Hospital after a brief illness.

He was appointed as superintendent of the county home in November 1971 by the Jay County Commissioners.  LeMaster and his wife, Helen, assumed their duties as superintendent and matron of the county home on Jan. 1, 1972.

LeMaster had been employed by the Indiana State Highway Department.

He was born May 24, 1922 in Madison Township, Jay County, the son of John L. and Dortha (Delauter) LeMaster.  On Oct. 22, 1941, he was married to Helen Pease, who survives.

LeMaster was graduated from Madison Township High School in 1940.  He was a member of the Salamonia Christian Church where served as a deacon.

Surviving besides his wife are one daughter, Mrs. William (Kay) Addington, RR 6, Portland; five sons, Leland and Terry LeMaster, RR 6, Portland; Douglas and Larry LeMaster, Salamonia, and Gary LeMaster, Redkey; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John L. LeMaster Sr., Salamonia; three sisters, Mrs. Gail (Jerry) Stoner, Troy, Ohio; Mrs. Ralph (Ardis) Bickel, Anderson and Mrs. Phillip (Ann) Monger, Hagerstown; one brother, William A. LeMaster, RR 6, Portland, and 13 grandchildren.

Funeral services are set for Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home with Don Potter, minister of the Salamonia Christian Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Salamonia Cemetery.

Callers will be received at the funeral home after 1 p.m. on Wednesday.  Memorials may be made to the Hemophiliac search Inc., 60 E. 42nd St., N.Y., N.Y., 19017.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Roger Allen LeMaster (1926-1972)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, March 6, 1972, page 8.

Roger LeMaster

Roger A. LeMaster, 45, a veteran of the Korean War, died unexpectedly early Sunday morning at his home in Salamonia.  Death was attributed to a heart attack.

He was born December 5, 1926 in Redkey, the son of John L. and Dorotha L. (Delauter) LeMaster Sr.  He was graduated from Madison High School in 1945 and Ball State University.  He was employed as a high school teacher at Randolph Central School Corporation at Winchester.  Mr. LeMaster was a member of the Salamonia Christian Church.

Surviving besides his parents in Salamonia are three sisters, Mrs. Gale (Jerry) Stoner, Troy, Ohio; Mrs. Ralph (Ardis) Bickel, Anderson and Mrs. Philip (Ann) Monger, Richmond; two brothers, John L. LeMaster Jr., RR 4, Portland and William A. LeMaster, RR 6, Portland.

Funeral services are set for Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home with Donald Potter, minister of the Salamonia Christian Church, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Salamonia Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Clara Louise (Burkey) LeMaster (1894-1985)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, October 31, 1985, page 12.

Clara LeMaster


Clara L. LeMaster, 90, 316 W. Main St., Portland, died Wednesday evening at the Portland Community Care Center East following a brief illness.


Born Dec. 16, 1894, in Jay County, she was the daughter of John and Leafie (Beebe) Burkey.  She was married in 1913 to Chesley F. LeMaster, who died Aug. 9, 1960.


Surviving are two sons, Ralph LeMaster, Elkhart, and Dale W. LeMaster, Springfield, Mass.; a daughter, Mrs. Doris M. Shaneyfelt, Portland; two sisters, Mrs. Etta Greaf, Portland, and Mrs. Clyde (Mabel) Murray, Goshen; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.


Services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Portland Chapel of the Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home.  Rev. John Bellante will officiate.  Burial will be in the Salamonia Cemetery.


Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Friday.  The family will be present at the funeral home from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.



Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Carrie V. (Haley) Thornburg (1905-2003)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, August 6, 2003, page 2.

Carrie Thornburg

Carrie V. Thornburg, 98, Muncie, died in Liberty Village there Thursday.  She was Jay County native.

Born in Jay County on May 14, 1905, to Eli and Cora (Metzner) Haley, she was a homemaker and attended Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.

Surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Services are Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Pastor James Ballenger presiding.  Burial will follow in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Portland.

Visitation is one hour prior to services.

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

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary: Bertha Fidelia (LeMaster) Yaeger (1874-1922)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, March 17, 1922, page 2.

MRS. JOHN H. YEAGER DEAD BRAZIL, IND.

Mrs. Bertha Yaeger, 47, wife of John H. Yaeger of Brazil, Ind., passed away Thursday noon.  She underwent an operation Sunday noon and never recovered.  She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.W. LeMaster of Salamonia.  Mr. Yaeger was a principal for sixteen years in the schools at Brazil, and also taught in the Madison Township schools.  Mrs. Yaeger was formerly a teacher in the Michigan schools and taught in Portland and Madison Township schools about nineteen years ago.

The deceased is survived by the husband and six children, Clarence, Mary, Helen, John Vernon, George Walker and Luther.  She is also survived by the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. L.L. Rockwell of Fort Recovery; L.C. LeMaster , west of Salamonia; W.C. LeMaster of Denver, Colo.; Mrs. M.J. Atkinson of Salamonia; Mrs. Henry Meinholtz of Alamosa, Colo.; Mrs. S.W. Phillips of David City, Neb.; A.R. LeMaster of Geneva, and Drs. O.O. and V.W. LeMasters, both of Sydney, O.

The body will arrive in this city Saturday and will be taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. L.W. LeMaster at Salamonia, where it will lie in state until the hour of the funeral.  The complete funeral arrangements will be announced later.

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Note the surname is spelled both Yeager and Yaeger in the same obituary, almost as bad as LeMaster/LeMasters.  The tombstone in Salamonia Cemetery spells the surname Yaeger.

I didn't know that Bertha taught in Michigan, will have to research this as well.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary: Lawrence Spence (1863-1961)

Lawrence Spence obituary, Anderson Herald, Anderson, Indiana, April 1, 1961, page 2

SPENCE FUNERAL IN ALEXANDRIA

Alexandria - Military funeral services for Lawrence Spence, 98, Indiana's oldest member of the American Legion, were held Thursday afternoon at the Karl M. Kyle Funeral Home with the Rev. Herschel M. Reed, pastor of the First Christian Church, in charge.

Organ music was provided by Mrs. Martin Burden.

Pall bearers were Earl Stage, Harry Beardsley, Garland Shafer, Irl Gorden, Herschel Swindell and William A. Lewis.  Chaplain was Sam Allen and color guards were Charles Cummins, Sam Allen, Fred Marston and Virgil Holford.

At the IOOF Cemetery, where interment was made, the firing squad was comprised of James Donahue, Donald P. Jones, Richard Hall and Neal Johnson. Buglar was Robert Hiatt, Jr.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary: Ord LeMaster (1906-1971)

Source: Ord W. LeMaster obituary, The Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, November 1, 1971

Ord W. LeMaster

Funeral services for Ord W. LeMaster, 65, 1107 W. Water St., Portland, will be conducted Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Baird-Freeman Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Boggs officiating.  Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery.

LeMaster died Saturday afternoon at the Clinic Hospital in Bluffton after a brief illness.  He had been employed for the past 25 years at Delco Battery in Muncie.

Born Sept. 30, 1906 in Jay County, his parents were Cooper and Barbara (Wehrly) LeMaster.  He was married to Ruth Haley, who survives.

Surviving besides his wife are three sons, Paul of Portland; Ord Weldon, Alexandria and Victor at home; three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Idola) Coats, Selma; Mrs. Harold (Juanita) Steigerwalt, Portland and Miss Ruth LeMaster at home; five brothers, Stanley LeMaster, Akron, Ohio; Elvin LeMaster, Columbus, Ohio; Floyd LeMaster, Union City, Ohio; John and Gerald LeMaster, Salamonia; three sisters, Mrs. Orville (Freda) LaFollette, Akron, Ohio; Mrs. Thornton (Mary Olive) Taylor, Akron, Ohio and Mrs. Glen (Dorothy) Lock, Richmond and 13 grandchildren.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary: Ardis E. Bickel (1931-1996)

Source: Ardis E. Bickel obituary, Anderson Herald-Bulletin, Anderson, Indiana, June 22, 1996

Ardis Ellen (LeMaster) Bickel, 65, Anderson, died June 20, 1996, at Community Hospital after an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 20, 1931, in Cowan, and lived in Anderson since 1953.  She was a homemaker.

She was a member of Vermillion Christian Church and Ladies Aid Society of the church.  She was a 1949 graduate of Madison Township High School.

Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Ralph Bickel Jr. of Anderson, two sons, Richard Bickel and Randall (wife, Theresa) Bickel, all of Anderson; two daughters and son-in-law, Barbara and Lonnie Short of Anderson and Carolyn Bickel of Greenwood; two sisters, Mrs. Gail (Gerry) Stoner of Troy, Ohio, and Mrs. Phillip (Ann) Monger of Hagerstown; nine grandchildren, Andrew Bagienski, Joshua R. Bickel, B. Keith Bickel, Autumn Ellen Short, Lonnita Short, Lori Waddey, Tara DeWeese, Nickelette Short and Lonnie L. Short II; three great-grandchildren, Jennifer Waddey, Joni Waddey and Brianna DeWeese; and two sisters-in-law, Helen LeMaster and Mrs. Walter (Wanda) Morhous, both of Portland.

She was preceded in death by three brothers.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Rozelle-Johnson Funeral Service with Keith Creamer of Vermillion Christian Church officiating.  Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Salamonie [sic] Cemetery in Salamonia.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vermillion Christian Church.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : John Cooper LeMaster (1935-1953)

Source: Lima News, Lima, Ohio, June 10, 1953, page 2.


Pfc. John C. Lemaster



Ft. Recovery - Funeral services for Pfc. John Cooper Lemaster, 18, who died in Korea of mortar shell wounds March 27, 1953, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Riffle funeral home with the Rev. Robert McCleary in charge.  Burial will be in Spring Hill cemetery.


The body will arrive here Wednesday morning.  An honor guard from American Legion posts of Ft. Recovery and Portland, Ind. will conduct military rites.  The youth attended elementary school here and junior high school at Portland.


Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Lemaster; a brother, Larry, in the Army; a sister, Donna Jane, at home; the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lemaster, Portland, and Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Gibbons, New Weston, and a great-grandfather, John Burkey, Portland.


----


There is a memorial to him at the FindAGrave website, which states that he died at Pork Chop Hill.


The obituary has his grandparents wrong, they were Chesley and Clara (BURKEY) LeMASTER.

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Emma Catherine (Leonhard) Haley (1866-1925)

Source: Mrs. Emma Catherine Haley obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, July 17, 1925, page 1

HALEY RITES ARE TO BE HELD 2 P.M. SUNDAY

WIFE OF ANDREW F. HALEY, OF NOBLE TOWNSHIP, SUCCUMBS THURSDAY P.M.

AFTER LONG ILLNESS CAUSED BY DIABETES

Deceased Had been Resident of Jay County for Past Fifty-nine Years

Funeral services for Mrs. Emma Catherine Haley, 59, wife of Andrew F. Haley, who died at her home eight miles northeast of Portland yesterday afternoon, following a long illness of diabetes, will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Mt. Zion church, nine miles northeast of here.  Interment will be made in the Fort Recovery, Ohio, cemetery.

The deceased had been ailing for the past year and one-half and had been seriously ill for the past four weeks.

Mrs. Haley was born in Noble township, Jay county, February 8, 1866, daughter of John Philip and Christena (Theurer) Leonhard, the father being a native of Germany.

The following children survive: Dr. C.O. Haley, of Chicago; Mrs. Ernest Chalfant, of Portland, and the following brothers and sister, Jacob, George and Henry Leonard, of Noble township, Jay county; John, of Plymouth, Ind.; William, of Fort Recovery; Christena Leonhard, of Noble township, and Mrs. George Cull, of Noble township.  Three grandchildren also survive.

-----


Emma Catherine LEONHARD married Andrew Frank HALEY, son of George Washington and Mary Jane (SHERRICK) HALEY, on November 3, 1887 in Jay County, Indiana.


Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Charles Alexander West Chew (1860-1925)

Source: C.A. Chew obituary, Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, USA, July 17, 1925, page 1

C.A. CHEW IS DEAD AT BOYNE CITY, MICHIGAN

Word Received Here Late Yesterday Comes As Shock To Relatives And Friends

Was Here On Visit Six Weeks Ago

Was Injured in Automobile Accident While on Return Trip to his Home.

Word was received here late yesterday telling of the death at Boyne City, Mich., of C.A. Chew, 75, former well known Jay county resident, living near Salamonia and New Corydon.  Particulars concerning the death were not received.  Local relatives left here yesterday afternoon via auto for Boyne City.

It is conjectured that Mr. Chew may have died from injuries received in an automobile accident a few weeks ago while returning to Boyne City, following a visit to this locality.  The Chews came here from Michigan about six weeks ago on a visit.  At that time Mr. Chew was in the best of health.  On the return trip they were in an accident and Mr. Chew was injured.

The deceased had been a resident of Jay county for many years.  He was engaged in the store business at Salamonia for many years, later selling the store and moving on a farm near New Corydon.  Later he went to Geneva, where he organized the Chew Overall factory, which he sold a few years ago and moved to Michigan.

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Charles Alexander West CHEW was born August 18, 1860 in Darke County, Ohio, the son of Dr. Ezekiel Cooper and Caroline Bishop (WOOLSTON) CHEW.  

Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.

Sunday's Obituary : Dr. Margaret S. Chew

Today's obituary is of Dr. Margaret S. CHEW, my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed.  I came across it during a Google search for key names relating to the Chew family.


La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse, Wisconisn, Thursday July 17, 2003 [online]


Dr. Margaret S. Chew


Dr. Margaret Sarah Chew, 93, of La Crosse passed away Sunday, July 13, 2003, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.


Margaret was born in Evanston, Ill., Aug. 20, 1909, on the Northwestern University campus to Nathaniel Durbin and Nettie Jane (Trumbauer) Chew, where her father was a seminary student.  She lived in Korea with her family from age 3 months to 7 years as her father was a missionary until they returned to Evanston, where she graduated from Evanston High School in 1926.  


Northwestern University recognized her work with a bachelor of science degree in 1930, and a master's in geography in 1936.  She was granted a Ph.D. from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., in 1960, having received an educational loan from PEO Chapter AL in La Crosse and also a Fellowship on two separate occasions during the ensuring years of study.  Her Ph.D. dissertation was "Urban Service Areas" showing how to map the influence of a middle size city in its surrounding area using La Crosse as an example.  The Greater La Crosse Chamber of Commerce published the maps and a major part of the dissertation in 1961 and included this publication in its bid for La Crosse being selected an All American City.  The city won the honor in 1966 and the then-Mayor Loveland gave Dr. Chew a key to the city of La Crosse, which was presented to the officials in Anchorage, Alaska, which also won that year.


Her high school teaching experiences included mathematics, history, geography and women's physical education at Iron Belt High School in 1930; social studies and women's physical education at Haven Intermediate School in Evanston.  The opportunity to teach geography began at New York State College, Buffalo, College of St. Teresa, Winona, Minn., and an initial summer (1945) appointment at La Crosse State College.  She continued to teach geography and earth science at La Crosse from 1945 to 1979, serving as chairwoman of the department from 1952 to 1965.


Dr. Chew ran the first field trip experiences at UW-L for the Wisconsin geography classes with an airplane field trip over the Coulee Region.  Three students at a time were taken after approval from their parents and class preparation.  Later Granddad's Bluff, the U.S. Conservation Farm and Devils Lake were added to the field offerings that the faculty in geography provided for students.  In 1946, Dr. Chew began offering tours around the world for teachers taking summer school courses.  They had to be three weeks in length with required readings and papers.  Her tours covered five continents and most of the countries of the world.  She traveled on her own to the other two continents and the South Pacific.  Many others, e.g. doctors, farmers, engineers also joined her.  She became La Crosse's ambassador to the world.


The last travels were in 1989, at the age of 80, when she visited Easter Island, Pitcairn, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands and Fuji.  Because she was an excellent photographer, the pictures and slides she took and her delightful educational way of presenting programs, found her a popular and often sought-after speaker.  Her special services to the college and university included many important committees including the responsibility of the selection of students for scholarship, faculty senate, and president of the La Crosse State College Foundation (1954-1979).  Building committee memberships included the Florence Wing Library, Cowley Hall and Cowley Annex.  In addition, she advised numerous student groups such as Delta Zeta and the Wesley Foundation.  Her records and photos are included in the anniversary of Wesley United Methodist Church this year.


Margaret was an active member of many organizations throughout the community and state.  She was one of the founders of the Wisconsin Geographical Society.  Other memberships included the American Association of University Women, National Council on Geographic Education and Lutheran Auxiliary and PEO Chapter AL to name only a few.  She was recognized as a person who enjoyed people and places and loved sharing this joy with all who came to hear and see the programs and lectures she freely gave.  Her travels throughout the world made her "a traveler of the world and an educator exceptional."  All who knew her have many wonderful memories.


She is survived by a niece, Ms. Carol Crabbs of Evanston; and a nephew, Terry (Paula) Crabbs of Kansas City, Mo.


Her parents, a sister, Elizabeth Crabbs, and a brother, Nathaniel Jr., preceded her in death.


Memorial services will be Monday, July 21, at 3 p.m., from Wesley United Methodist Church, 721 King St., La Crosse.  The Rev. Donald Iliff will officiate. Burial will be in the family plot in Caledonia, Mich.  There will not be a visitation.  Memorials in lieu of flowers may be directed to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation for the Margaret Chew Scholarship or Wesley United Methodist Church, La Crosse for the Margaret Chew Memorial.  Woodruff-Jandt Funeral Home, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.






Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.