Margaret E. Stortz

Margaret E. Stortz, age 92, of Decorah, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, March 16, 2014 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. David Sorensen and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating. Interment will be held in the spring in Hauge Lutheran Cemetery in rural Decorah. Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, two hours before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church. Margaret Elizabeth (Halvorson) Stortz was born November 14, 1921 in Canoe Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Hans and Mabel (Rustad) Halvorson. She was baptized on April 30, 1922 at Hauge Lutheran Church and confirmed on June 21, 1936 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. She attended rural school in Canoe and Frankville Townships, then worked as a mother’s helper in Decorah and as a waitress at Barge’s Restaurant in Decorah. She was united in marriage to Virgil R. Stortz on May 5, 1946 at Hauge Lutheran Church by Pastor Carl Losen. To this union, five children were born: Diane, Beverly, Loren and Lowell and a daughter who died in infancy. They farmed in Winneshiek County for many years, retiring and moving into Decorah in November 1981. A life-long resident of Winneshiek County, she was a member of Hauge Lutheran Church for many years and later became a member of First Lutheran Church and then Decorah Lutheran Church. She was always an active member of her church participating in Bible study, Ladies Aid & Circle – often as Chairperson, as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. Margaret volunteered at Aase Haugen Home where she served on the Aase Auxiliary Board, wrote letters for patients, made rommegrot, played Bingo with residents, baked and served cookies & coffee. She was also an active volunteer at Winneshiek Medical Center where she was a lifetime member of the Auxiliary, did baking, Information Desk and mailings. She loved her family, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Margaret baked countless chocolate chip, ginger and sugar cookies that were perfectly shaped and sized. She was a daily walker, enjoyed working crossword and jigsaw puzzles, her glass bird collection, eating at The Family Table, and of course coffee, no matter what time of day it was. Margaret has been a resident of the Aase Haugen Home since October 2008. Margaret is survived by four children: Diane Stortz, Edmonds, WA, Beverly (Paul) Nichols, Decorah, Loren (Carol) Stortz, Elgin, MN and Lowell (Debra) Stortz, Edina, MN; eleven grandchildren : Jason (Lindsey) Richardson, Englewood, CO, Andrea (Brian) Heneghan, Dorchester, MA, BJ (Laura) Nichols, Silver Spring, MD, Benji (Aryn) Nichols, Decorah, Megan Gluth, Edmonds, WA, Carl (Heather) Stortz, Northfield, MN, Ethan Stortz, Camden, NJ, Hannah Stortz, Elgin, MN, Evan Stortz, Elgin, MN, Matthew (Erica) Stortz, New Haven, CT and Kristen Stortz, New York, NY; seven great-grandchildren: Wilson, Henry and Annalise Nichols, Silver Spring, MD, Patrick, Emily and Maya Heneghan, Dorchester, MA and Roxie Nichols, Decorah; two brothers, Orlando Halverson and Donald (June) Halvorson, both of Decorah; and two sisters–in–law, Marjorie Severson, Decorah and Lorraine (Walter) Teslow, Waukon, IA. She was preceded in death by her infant daughter Sharon, her husband Virgil on June 20, 2005, grandson Nathan Richardson in November 2010, sisters Edna Strub and Ruth Strub, sister-in-law Olga Halverson, and brothers-in-law Vincent Strub, Ray Strub, and Everett Severson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Aase Haugen Home, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101, WMC Hospice, 901 Montgomery Street Decorah, IA 52101, Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101, or Hauge Lutheran Church, 3147 Middle Hesper Road, Decorah, IA 52101.