Margo Jean Sievers Matthies was born on August 9, 1950, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The youngest daughter of William F. (Bill) and June (Dock) Sievers, Margo was welcomed home by older sisters Monica and Susie. The family lived in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado before moving to the farm South of Walnut when Margo was three years old.
Margo attended school in Walnut, graduating with the class of 1968. While in high school, Margo participated in pep club, girls’ glee and the paper staff. After high school, she attended college in Gunnison and Greeley Colorado. She majored in History but always had a dream of being a National Park Ranger in Colorado. She had a lifelong love of the state and family vacations usually included a trip to Estes Park.
After college, Margo retuned to Walnut and married the neighbor boy, Doug Matthies, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Walnut on August 15, 1970. Shortly after the wedding, Doug was drafted into the US Army and Margo stayed in Walnut, living with her dad, until she could join him at Fort Sill, OK. While in Oklahoma, Margo worked for the auditors for the State of Oklahoma.
After their time in Oklahoma, Doug and Margo returned to Iowa and started their family. They were blessed with three children, Christine, Cathleen, and Reid. In December of 1983, Doug and Margo were able to purchase the home that Margo had always loved and they moved their family from Harlan to Walnut. Margo loved being a mom and she was everything to her children. When the kids were younger, she was a girl scout leader as well as a 4-H leader. She was the mom who could make any dream a reality, including making six poodle skirts with very short notice for a Jr. High lip sync contest. She designed Halloween costumes and themed costumes for kiddie parades with the next year always a little more creative than the year before. She especially enjoyed Christmas. Her home was always decorated and she believed more is more when it came to Christmas decorations, both indoor and outdoor. She made every holiday special and created memories to last a lifetime.
Margo was a member of the Walnut Presbyterian Church, serving on session for many years as well as a member of the Presbyterian Woman’s group, volunteering on the funeral committee and the annual turkey dinner committee. She also was a charter member of the Walnut Red Hatters.
Margo held several jobs during her career, but none she loved as much as being the Director of the Walnut Public Library, a position she held for over 22 years. She poured her heart into the library and was proud of the accomplishments and accreditations the library achieved with her leadership. So many of the library patrons became friends she cherished through the years. She especially enjoyed Wednesday morning coffee with the “ladies” at the library.
The only thing Margo loved more than being a mom was being a grandma. Collin, Landon, Molly and Jackson each had a special, unique bond with their grandma. She had a way of making each of them feel like they were her favorite yet would claim she didn’t have a favorite. She was their protector, encourager, listening ear, cheerleader and without waiver, always took their side in any argument they had with their moms. She gave advice when needed and knew the answer to every question they ever had.
Margo was an avid Iowa State Cyclones fan, attending football games for many years and watching basketball on TV when it was just too cold to get out. She was also a faithful Wheel Watcher. We all knew that if Wheel of Fortune was on TV, we were not allowed to talk during the contestant introductions. There was always an unspoken challenge to try to be the first in the room to solve the puzzles. She usually won this challenge.
Margo passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at the age of 73 with her family at her side after a very brief illness. While her time on this earth was too short, she is no longer suffering from a disease that could not be cured. She was proceeded in death by her parents, mother and father-in-law, Fred and Gertrude Matthies, and brother-in-law, Stanley Matthies.
Left to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy of love, caring and selflessness are her husband of 53 years, Doug, daughter Christie Matthies and granddaughter Molly, daughter Cathy Shutters and grandsons Collin, Landon and Jackson, and son Reid and the bulldog Angus. Sisters Monica Joyce and Susie Sievers, brother and sister-in-laws, Sally Matthies, Robert and Verna Matthies, Darla and Sherman Snyder, special friend, Judy Schrecengost, nieces, nephews, friends and library patrons.
The Celebration of Life for Margo was held on April 4, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church in Walnut with Rev. Bill Switzer officiating. Following the inurnment in the Layton Township Cemetery at Walnut, a luncheon was held at the Walnut Community Center.
KH