Margaret Byrne

Margaret Ann Byrne, 84, of Watertown, died late Wednesday afternoon at Marquardt Village. She was with her sons, daughter-in-law, and many of the staff in Marquart Manor. Margaret Loveall was born in Petersburg, Indiana on August 8, 1926. She was the second daughter of George and Mary Mae (Price) Loveall. She eventually moved with the family to Galva, Illinois. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Elementary Education in 1949. She met Leo Michael Byrne, Jr. and they were married on April 19, 1952 in Galva, Illinois. They had two sons, William Leo and David Arthur. Leo passed away in 1989. Margaret taught school for many years, first in Rockford, Illinois at Jackson Elementary and then in Pecatonica, Illinois before retiring in 1988. She enjoyed teaching in Rockford and Pecatonica. She often spoke happily of memories of teachers and students at both schools. She is survived by both sons, Davids wife, Amy Miltenberger and their sons, Laurence Devlin, Alexander Loveall, and Julian Michael Byrne. She loved her three grandsons more than anything and delighted in everything about them. Her parents, George and Mae died before her as did her brothers, George, John, Jim and his wife, Betty, and her sister, Dora Mae and her husband, Kenneth. She recently lost a sister-in-law, Terri and a daughter-in-law, Lori. She is survived by four brothers, Phillip (and Mary Ann), Don (and Joyce), Tom, and Bob (and Jean) and two sisters-in-law, Catherine Myers Phelps and Mary Finan. There are many nieces and nephews scattered across the country, too. Margaret moved to Watertown, Wisconsin from Rockford, Illinois in August of 2003 after dealing with a series of severe medical issues. She moved into Highland Apartments and lived in that supportive and caring environment before her deteriorating health forced her to move to Marquart Manor in 2009. The nursing staff, the food service staff, the maintenance staff, the activities staff and CNAs made her last few years comfortable as possible and often fun. She spoke gratefully and warmly about them and the family is grateful for their presence in her life. Margaret is already missed more than words can describe. Although frequently struggling with tremendous pain and discomfort over the last several years, she rarely complained and was typically more concerned with what someone else was going through. As she lay dying and before she lost her ability to speak, she told one of her sons that he should go home and get some rest. Like parents and grandparents are supposed to do, she gave us a glimpse of what God is like. Visitations will be held at Schmutzler-Vick Funeral Home in Watertown, Wis. on Saturday, March 26th from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. and at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Mulford Rd. in Rockford, Ill. on Sunday, March 27th from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. The funeral services will be held at Court Street United Methodist Church in Rockford on Monday, March 28th at 10 a.m. with interment afterward at Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Marquardt Foundation.