Margaret G. Sanderson
(May 24, 1925 – November 11, 2013)
Margaret Greenfield Sanderson, 88, formerly of Rochelle, passed away on November 11, 2013, at Littleton Adventist Hospital in Littleton, Colorado, after suffering a heart attack earlier that day at her home in Greenwood Village, Colorado. She was surrounded by family members and the love of all who were in prayer with her as she passed into the arms of the angels.
She was born on a farm near Ashton, Illinois, on May 24, 1925, to Dick and Ragna (Hansen) Greenfield. Margaret graduated from Ashton High School and received additional education at the business college in Dixon, Illinois. She worked as a secretary for Ashton High School, the Ashton Bank and Manning Motor Sales in Rochelle. On the evening of December 15, 1948, she married Byron Powell Sanderson at the Rochelle United Methodist Church.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Byron, and siblings Dorothy Greenfield, Ruby Frakes and Dick Greenfield, Jr. She is survived by her daughter, Gretchen (Greg Ward) of Greenwood Village, Colorado; son, Jeffrey (Donna) of Centennial, Colorado; son, Scott also of Centennial, Colorado; and granddaughter Katherine Sanderson who is currently a student at Santa Clara University in California; sister, Mary Alice Manning of Belvidere, Illinois; Wayne (Bonnie) Greenfield of Niceville, Florida; Jim (Marilyn) Greenfield of Carmel, Indiana; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Margaret lived a rich and full life. She loved making a home for her family, supporting her husband in various businesses, lovingly teaching and guiding her children on the lessons of life, collecting antiques, serving as an election judge, making her meals for neighbors in need, participating in various women's groups at her church, helping in the hospital auxiliary gift shop, mowing her lawn and keeping her house up, finding time for numerous bridge clubs and rounds of golf at Rochelle Country Club. Many winter vacations were enjoyed by the family on the beaches of Florida and, when she and Byron built a house on Lauderdale Lakes in Wisconsin, she treasured the time watching her children learn to water ski and blossom into young adults. At age 60 she competed in the Bolder Boulder 10K race and received a third place ribbon … lots of fun for the entire family as we watched Mom cross the finish line at Folsom Field with the sun shining on her radiant face. Margaret was able to travel the world with her family … Hawaii, Germany, Norway, Holland, England, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada and many wonderful destinations in the United States. Travel was always an adventure with Mom along! And dance she did . . . her favorite partner was her beloved granddaughter, Katherine, who she would whirl around the kitchen before she could even walk. Even in the latter part of her life, when speech had become difficult for her, there was always singing with her earphones on to her beautiful songs … smiling and happy. There were difficult times in her life, as with all as we make this journey, but her tenacity and never-give-up way of approaching obstacles was a lesson observed by all her knew her. She will be sorely missed by her family and those who loved her as we deal with this loss.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 29, 2013, at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N. 6th St., Rochelle, Illinois. Burial at Lawnridge Cemetery in Rochelle. Memorials are to the Rochelle United Methodist Church.