Obituary of Margaret Joyce Wagner

Margaret Joyce Wagner, nee Swenson, passed away on Dec. 15, 2023 at 96 years of age.

Margaret was predeceased by her daughters Elaine & Harriet & great grandsons Kade & Allan Jr.

Margaret is survived by her children, Linda, Kathy-Jack, David-Julia, James & Sheila-Brian.  There are also 14 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren & 2 great, great grandchildren.

Margaret was born in Kevin, Montana, USA.   Anyone who met her soon realized that she was proud to be from Montana, the 'Big Sky Country'. She grew up on the Swenson family farm outside Cutbank, Montana, with her 3 sisters & 3 brothers. 

After marriage, she went on to have 7 children of her own while living in Montana, Wyoming, California & Washington States & in Mission B.C. Canada. 

While living in Mission, Margaret raised her children & eventually worked as a ‘Homemaker’ now known as Home Support Workers.  She moved to Abbotsford where she lived for many years.  After retiring she was an active volunteer in her church, for MennoHome & as a driver for the Cancer Society.  Leaving a message on her answering machine was often the only way to contact her.  Margaret moved again to Langley & finally to Quesnel, where she achieved one of her life long goals, when she became a first time home-owner at the age of 88!  

Margaret loved to travel & was happiest when on her way to visit her far-flung family & friends in Canada, the U.S. & Australia.  She loved her food & no meal was complete without dessert.  No cup of hot chocolate was complete without marshmallows. She enjoyed playing card or word games.  She could have been an advert for UNO & SkipBo.  She taught many children to play & there was no cheating or assisting no matter their age.  Margaret tried her hand at many crafts & had every right to be proud of the large tablecloth she embroidered. She was constantly knitting - afghans & shrugs but primarily lap robes.  There are lap robes all over the world due to her efforts to save leftover yarn from landfills & to help chair bound people stay warm.  To keep her mind & eyes active required an ongoing supply of seek-a-word puzzle books and Christian novels. 

Margaret had a strong belief in her Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ & was never without her bible, which she read cover to cover every year. 

We plan to inter Margaret on her birthday, May 4th, at Tranquility Gardens in Quesnel.