Margaret L. St. John
August 31, 2013
Margaret L. Rauch St.John of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, died Saturday, August 31, 2013, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Margaret was the daughter of Forrest H. Rauch and Dorothy L. Toney Rauch. She was born at home in rural Grand River, Iowa on November 18, 1927. She lived for 20 years in rural Grand River. She then met Galen Barmore St.John; they married on November 15, 1948, in Leon, Iowa. To this union, they were blessed with three children: Linda and twins, Doyle Ray and Dottie Kay.
Margaret leaves this world a well loved woman and will surely be welcomed into Heaven by her Savior, family and friends.
Margaret is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Galen; three children: Linda of Bloomington, MN, Doyle (Shelia) of Canton, TX, and Dottie (Jerry) Johnson of West Des Moines, IA; grandchildren: Sharon (Rick) Andrews of Des Moines, IA, Galen (Denise) St.John of Decatur County, IA, Shawn (Sandra) St.John of Canton, TX, James (Liberty) Johnson of Minnetonka, MN, and Daniel R. Johnson of West Des Moines, IA; great-grandchildren: Kayla and John Andrews, Erica and twins, Cody and Tyler St. John, Jacob, Isaac, Grace and Noah Johnson, Noah Streeter, and Emily, Alan and Jesse St. John; sisters: Hazel Smith and Gloria Pierson; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents and brothers, Junior, Donald and James Rauch.
Margaret graduated from University of Northern Iowa and taught in rural schools before her marriage. Galen and Margaret made their first home in Decatur County, Iowa, before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1953; then to Pleasant Hill, Iowa, where they lived from October 11, 1964 to the present. Margaret helped start their independent insurance agency and she was also a long time member of the East Gate Eastern Star.
Family was Margaret’s top priority. She was the best mother and grandmother in the world, a wonderful homemaker, an outstanding cook, and an accomplished gardener. She was a lifelong learner, mastering the internet and social media within the last four years, enabling her to make many valued friends.
To say that she will be greatly missed by all family and friends is an understatement.
Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 4, also at the funeral home.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Rachael Adkins
09/06/2013
You were such a wonderful person who always brought a smile to my face. You made me view life in a different way and changed me for the better. For that, I shall be eternally grateful. I love and miss you so very much, sweetheart. Rest in peace and fly with the angels.
Cindee Swanson Beattie
09/05/2013
St John family
Your mom was a special lady. She will be missed. Praying for your family.
Susan Churchill
09/05/2013
I have had the privilege of being friends with the St John family for over 49 years. Margaret was like a second mom to me. I was over at their house just as much as my own home. She helped teach me how to be a lady. Margaret helped me get through the lose of my mom and dad. I loved her and my heart is broken. I praise the Lord that somewhere in the future I shall see her again. Love to Galen, Doyle, Linda and my sweet Dot. I will be praying for you all
Mr & Mrs Robert Locklear
09/05/2013
Doyle, Sheila & Family, Our thoughts & prayers are with all of you.
Bob & Juanine
Norm & Opal Current
09/04/2013
Galen: Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I (Norm) miss the good old days when so many of us enjoyed those breakfasts at Hy-Vee.
Marc Swanson
09/04/2013
She was a special person, enjoyed live by her all those years. She will be missed.
Donnie Propst
09/04/2013
My thoughts are with the St. John family, many fond thoughts of Aunt Margaret since learning of her passing today,
jonel dingman
09/04/2013
dear sweet margaret though we met on fb. i feel like we have been friends forever. margaret was a very sweet lady to all of us on fb. with her very kind and postive words. she will be greatly missed. to the family i am very sorry for the loss of your wife, and mother, and grandmother. i pray god will give all of you the strength to get thru this very difficult time. she has left us to soon. may margaret rest in peace.
Leota Lipovac
09/04/2013
Margaret was a beautiful person from the inside out and I will always think of her with fondness. As her obituary states, she was family oriented and I know with certainty that orientation was also given to extended family members. She never forgot family and will not be forgotten by any family member.
With love,
Leota
kevin kendall
09/04/2013
Doyle and family my condolences and prayers and thoughts are with you allways Casey
Don & Wanda Cunningham
09/03/2013
We really thought a lot of your Mom, Doyle. She was always nice to me and then when Wanda came into my life, she (your mom) had nothing but nice things to say about her, one that I always thought of was, "Boy, Don, she really settled you down". We really liked her.
Linda, Dottie, We are thinking of you in this too. I think of the verse, "In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself that where I am, there you may also be." John 14:2-3. This always made me that God was in the process of building my home, Jesus wasn't a carpenter for nothing ya know. I think of Him building your mothers mansion and finishing it early (early in our eyes). He finished with your mom's and now she is home.
I hope you know that God is with you and He will continue to be with you.
Don and Wanda
Cheryl Allen
09/02/2013
A very special lady is now gone. So lucky to have known her & the family. We talked every few weeks I will miss our visits.
My Thought & Prayers are with you all.
Friend Cheryl Allen