Margaret Koppenhaver
August 1, 1936 ~ December 26, 2021
Margaret Ellen Koppenhaver, 85, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, December 26, 2021. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2022, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Celebration of Life: 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, rural Mount Vernon. Burial at a later date at Linn Grove Cemetery.
Margaret's family requests that guests attending the visitation and service wear face masks and social distance whenever possible.
Family and friends unable to attend the Celebration of Life are invited to watch via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Margaret's Tribute Wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Donald; children, Gary (Kay) Koppenhaver, Karol (Aaron Franck) Koppenhaver, Scott (Lori) Koppenhaver, Ann (Mike O'Brien) Koppenhaver; grandchildren, Brent (Sara) Koppenhaver, Leslie (Tyler) Johnson, Ross (Rachel) Koppenhaver, Kelly (Jarod King) Nelson, Talia (Chad) Breidinger, Jeremy Koppenhaver, Tyler Koppenhaver, Korey Koppenhaver, Jenna (Brice) Steiner, Elliot Koppenhaver, Aarika (Alex Hovey) Koppenhaver, and Beau (Allie L'Homme) Rolland.
Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Taylor and Courtney Franck; Trulie Breidinger; Cora, Calvin, and Carter Koppenhaver; Sylvia and Alan Johnson; Kaydence Koppenhaver; and Parker Jane Koppenhaver; brother, Charles Martin; sister-in-law, Becky Martin; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Wayne Martin; and sister, Ruth Switzer.
Margaret was born August 1, 1936, the daughter of Raymond and Gladys (Strother) Martin. She grew up in the Martelle area, attending Martelle High School and the University of Iowa. Margaret married Donald Koppenhaver on June 15, 1953, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua.
Family, faith, and community were central to Margaret's life. She was a lifelong member of Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, where she began playing the piano at 14 years old and continued as organist her entire life. She was instrumental in the life of the church, serving as an elder, Sunday School teacher, and with the Linn Grove Ladies Aid. Margaret also worked as a secretary for attorney RB Wolfe, as Mount Vernon High School library assistant, and as administrative assistant for Don in his CPA practice. She served on the Mount Vernon School Board for ten years, was a member of the New Century Club, and volunteered at Hallmark Care Center playing music for many years.
Margaret's list of notable achievements begins with her family. Being a wife, mother, and grandmother were her favorite titles, and she wore them with great pride. She was a wonderful cook and always had a meal for whomever visited. There was always a ham sandwich to anyone who stopped in. Many considered her a grandma of their own because of her loving kindness for everyone. Margaret's family and friends will greatly miss her.
Please direct all memorials to Linn Grove Presbyterian Church.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon
Margaret was an awesome Sunday School teacher and a great pianist/organist!!! Barry Johnson
As you grieve know that we are remembering you and honoring the memory of Margaret Koppenhaver.
I will always thank Margaret for helping me out when I was a kid at Linn Grove. As you know, I was extremely shy. She got me started doing something that I continue to this day. We are in the middle of a snowstorm here on Tuesday, and I do not know if we will be able to come to visitation on Friday. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It is so hard to lose a parent or a grandparent, I know. Best wishes to all of you and God bless you at this very difficult time. Wendy Hodgden Staggs
Sorry for your loss.
What a sweet , upbeat lady. A life well lived.
The loss of a parent is the loss of our past . There will always be unanswered questions. However, we will always remember the wisdom they gave us.
We are sad for your loss and hope you will all find comfort.
I’m so sorry for you loss. Thoughts and prayers are with everyone.
Don and daughters, you are so very fortunate to have had Margaret with you all these years. She was a joy. Condolences, Jeff Davis
Remember that we love and care about you.
Margaret is a great lady and will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. I’m so thankful that I got to spend time with her those many years ago. I still think of those moments and cherish them always. My thoughts and prayers are with Don and his family. Kathy Tjelmeland McDowell Briney
Donnie and family, we are sad to hear of Margaret’s passing. I road the school bus with Margaret and I have known her since the 5th grade at Martelle. While we have lived away from Iowa for over 60 years Margaret and Donnie were foremost in our thoughts. It has always been a pleasure to see them at reunions. Let God be with the family at this very difficult time. Don and Beverly Bunce Colorado Springs, CO
We are so deeply sorry to hear about Margret passing away. She was a fantastic lady. We will greatly miss her. Our thought and prayers are with you all. Sincerely-Vernon and Sue Johnson
Uncle Don and family, We are so sad to hear of Aunt Margaret’s passing. We will cherish the memories of her lively energy in whatever she is doing in life, playing music,preparing food for Linn Grove Church events, teaching Sunday school. She was at the core of many people’s lives, including ours. We will greatly miss her. Our love and prayers to Don and family. Shirley and Dan Barklind
I will remember Margaret fondly. We shared some laughs together when she was working uptown. My sympathies to her nice family and wishing them peace.
To the family that knew Margaret the best: I had the privilege to run church at Hallmark alongside her in the summertime. She was just a pure joy to be around. Have peace in knowing that this is not goodbye just a see you later! Thank you Margaret for being so kind and treating me like I was part of the family.
Dear Koppenhaver Family, Please accept my condolences at Margaret’s passing. She was a model for others in her caring for her family, her church, and her community. Having succeeded her as a school board member, I always thought of her as a model of what a board member should be: caring, considerate, and fair. It was a pleasure to know her.
Holding the Koppenhaver family in my heart after hearing of Margaret’s loss. I have many fond and laughter-filled memories of the times I was around her and Don, most specifically when they chaperoned our high school band trip to St. Louis where they kept us all safe and laughing. She had a wonderful laugh, a great sense of humor and raised some amazing and talented children, all of which I’m grateful to call friends. Hugs to dear Don, her family and friends as they navigate the difficult days ahead. Share her stories with each other and those who ask, because it’s so healing and keeps her legacy alive! Love you, Margaret!
We are thinking of you during this difficult time. We are praying for your family.
Please accept my condolences,
We are so sorry for your loss. She was truly an amazing woman.
Bill and I send our condolences and will live stream Margaret’s celebration of life. We will always remember the many joyous gatherings from softball, Mt. Vernon sporting events and of course the many FUN ( no tell ) events over the years. Margaret’s life was so giving to her community from church,school board,etc. We cannot forget her talents with cooking and baking plus helping Don with all the “soda’s” they bottled. What great friends and all the memories we cherish. Myrt and Bill Bowers
Margaret will always be remembered as being multi-lingual. She had her voice and her hands; she spoke through both. The organ and piano was a gift to us all. What a meaningful ministry. I think of her and you folks very fondly. Our warmest wishes are with you. Mark Kirkpatrick
Margaret was a vital member of the Linn Grove family for decades. Although her ministry of music has now been silenced, it will never be forgotten. God bless, keep and comfort Don and the entire Koppenhaver family. Dan Kirkpatrick
Dearest Don, Gary, Karol, Scott and Ann, My heart hurts for all of you today and in the difficult days ahead. Margaret truly was “unforgettable” to so many including me. Our first babysitter and then me as your sitter. The memories come flooding back. Without having been touched by her, there would be no memories. Knowing this, I hope it will bring you great comfort and strength. Hold close to your heart all those memories of a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend. Sending much love to you all. The service was perfect. ❤️ Love, Debbie Goudy Ward
I have lost one of my best friends. I still can not believe she isn’t with us. I can hear laugh, see her smile, and her gestures…..as has been said, she is UNFORGETTABLE. There will never be anyone like Margaret. She was so much to so many. Ed and I have had so many, but not enough, memories She told it like it was, like it or not. I love Margaret and will miss her more than anyone will ever know. The parties, pizzas, football games, just won’t be the same. We love you Don and family, you can be so proud of the beautiful family you have raised. Mt. Vernon is going to miss her. Our sincerest sympathy to you all. Ed and Annamae