Obituary for Margaret Mary "Peggy" Walker
Peggy died unexpectedly at the age of 73, leaving behind a loving husband and life partner of 37 years, Jack, stepdaughter Wendy (Jeremy), daughter Danielle, son Michael, brothers Tom (Marilyn) and Rick (Linda), sisters Marilyn (Bob), Judy (Ed), Terry, and her faithful Lab companion Alice. She will also be dearly missed by her best girlfriend of 66 years, Gayle.
Born June 3, 1947, Peggy was adopted at the age of 3 and raised by Howard and Ruth Halaska in Elm Grove, WI. She graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in 1965.
Peggy married Jim Newman in 1970 and resided in Long Beach, CA. They later divorced, but not before she received her Associates Degree and Dani and Mike came along.
On her birthday in 1982, Peg married the love of her life and her soulmate, Jack Walker, and returned to WI, where she would live out the rest of her days. Together they shared many adventures, including the family business, Walker Music, where she was the bookkeeper. After blending their families in Elm Grove, they moved to their house on Pewaukee Lake in 1987. Life on the lake in the summer was full of evening boat rides in their tried but true Chris-Craft, the Woody Too, after a wonderful home cooked meal. If us kids were going to bail out on dinner (to go water skiing instead), we’d better call by noon and let her know, as the evening meal was shopped for daily! Boat rides were always accompanied by a loyal dog: first Queenie, then Woody, Buddy, Suzy, Diego, and Alice. All of them shared the love of a good chicken dinner, as Mom was quite generous with the after-dinner scraps.
Seven years ago, they left their paradise on the lake to find a new one, this time in an old 1880 brick farmhouse surrounded by cornfields with some acreage in Mayville, WI. Their daily duties turned to the joyful upkeep of the lawn, gardens and tree maintenance with a gourmet dinner awaiting at the end of the day. If one of them wasn’t cooking, they loved going out for a good meal, and Mom always had a soft spot for homemade soup. As boating became less frequent, Mom still loved to spend time outdoors. Whether reading, resting, gardening or conversing on the deck, eating appetizers and talking politics, time with the sun on her legs and wind in her hair was time to be cherished.
Peggy was an avid reader, and has collected thousands of books over the years, many of which still contain bookmarks, but never a creased page. In her retirement, she worked at Schwartz Bookstore and reveled in obtaining copies of galleys for free, which fed her three book a week habit. No tablet for this old bookworm…hard cover books, where she could feel the pages turn, were a necessary part of the experience.
She had a thirst for knowledge. The Wall Street Journal and Drudge report were part of her daily routine. She worried for our country, and tried to obtain the most info possible about the current state of it and our world. She was a critical thinker, often looking to several sources to sort out the truth.
Her lifelong love of antiques resulted in a home full of furniture and collectibles that have their own tales. She loved going to auctions and adding another piece to her many collections. Jack would only be a phone call away if she needed a large piece taken home…like an 8-foot, 1850’s oak Baker’s table that weighs 150 pounds, for example.
A monthly lunch date with Barb, Pat, and Gale was a highlight on Peg’s calendar for the past 17 years. She so looked forward to the 3-4-hour lunch at MJ Stevens, chatting and having great fun with these very cherished friends.
She loved and believed in God. “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic” she would say! Whether a full bible beating preacher, cafeteria Catholic, or recovering Catholic, nobody quits being a Catholic. She was elated when the Pope declared that cremation was acceptable! What she had always wanted was now approved by the church!
Peggy and Jack agreed that neither wanted a funeral, rather a cremation with ashes spread on the water and having memories in everyone’s hearts, with a sunny smile. A small gathering for immediate family will be held once we can all hug each other again and to spread her ashes in the water on a lake, which is where she always found her center. A life well lived, rest in peace Peggy.
To family and dear friends, Jack would like to offer a final prayer:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. – Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Born June 3, 1947, Peggy was adopted at the age of 3 and raised by Howard and Ruth Halaska in Elm Grove, WI. She graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in 1965.
Peggy married Jim Newman in 1970 and resided in Long Beach, CA. They later divorced, but not before she received her Associates Degree and Dani and Mike came along.
On her birthday in 1982, Peg married the love of her life and her soulmate, Jack Walker, and returned to WI, where she would live out the rest of her days. Together they shared many adventures, including the family business, Walker Music, where she was the bookkeeper. After blending their families in Elm Grove, they moved to their house on Pewaukee Lake in 1987. Life on the lake in the summer was full of evening boat rides in their tried but true Chris-Craft, the Woody Too, after a wonderful home cooked meal. If us kids were going to bail out on dinner (to go water skiing instead), we’d better call by noon and let her know, as the evening meal was shopped for daily! Boat rides were always accompanied by a loyal dog: first Queenie, then Woody, Buddy, Suzy, Diego, and Alice. All of them shared the love of a good chicken dinner, as Mom was quite generous with the after-dinner scraps.
Seven years ago, they left their paradise on the lake to find a new one, this time in an old 1880 brick farmhouse surrounded by cornfields with some acreage in Mayville, WI. Their daily duties turned to the joyful upkeep of the lawn, gardens and tree maintenance with a gourmet dinner awaiting at the end of the day. If one of them wasn’t cooking, they loved going out for a good meal, and Mom always had a soft spot for homemade soup. As boating became less frequent, Mom still loved to spend time outdoors. Whether reading, resting, gardening or conversing on the deck, eating appetizers and talking politics, time with the sun on her legs and wind in her hair was time to be cherished.
Peggy was an avid reader, and has collected thousands of books over the years, many of which still contain bookmarks, but never a creased page. In her retirement, she worked at Schwartz Bookstore and reveled in obtaining copies of galleys for free, which fed her three book a week habit. No tablet for this old bookworm…hard cover books, where she could feel the pages turn, were a necessary part of the experience.
She had a thirst for knowledge. The Wall Street Journal and Drudge report were part of her daily routine. She worried for our country, and tried to obtain the most info possible about the current state of it and our world. She was a critical thinker, often looking to several sources to sort out the truth.
Her lifelong love of antiques resulted in a home full of furniture and collectibles that have their own tales. She loved going to auctions and adding another piece to her many collections. Jack would only be a phone call away if she needed a large piece taken home…like an 8-foot, 1850’s oak Baker’s table that weighs 150 pounds, for example.
A monthly lunch date with Barb, Pat, and Gale was a highlight on Peg’s calendar for the past 17 years. She so looked forward to the 3-4-hour lunch at MJ Stevens, chatting and having great fun with these very cherished friends.
She loved and believed in God. “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic” she would say! Whether a full bible beating preacher, cafeteria Catholic, or recovering Catholic, nobody quits being a Catholic. She was elated when the Pope declared that cremation was acceptable! What she had always wanted was now approved by the church!
Peggy and Jack agreed that neither wanted a funeral, rather a cremation with ashes spread on the water and having memories in everyone’s hearts, with a sunny smile. A small gathering for immediate family will be held once we can all hug each other again and to spread her ashes in the water on a lake, which is where she always found her center. A life well lived, rest in peace Peggy.
To family and dear friends, Jack would like to offer a final prayer:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. – Numbers 6:24-26 (NRSV)
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.