Margo Kealey

Margo passed away on Jan. 12, 2020. Margo was surrounded by family at the time of her passing in the Memory Care IPU at Agrace HospiceCare Inc. in Fitchburg WI. Margo was born on April 9, 1941 in Wisconsin Rapids, WI to George and Doris Welton. Margo graduated from high school in Stevens Point, WI in 1959. She went to University Stevens Point and then transferred to nursing school in Milwaukee, WI. She then got a job in Oshkosh, WI where she married and had 2 children. Her journey through her life brought her many adventures. She eventually moved herself and children to Madison, WI. Margo spent most of her life in Madison, WI. She was always learning new things to keep her busy. She wanted to take time out from nursing and learned to weld. She was one of the first women to graduate from welding school. She moved the family to Portland, OR, where her then partner was living. Margo got a job at the train yard welding the big cars together. She eventually left welding to do housekeeping. After a few years Margo moved her family back to Madison. She went back into nursing. She worked at several nursing homes. Margo was not done learning. She was a very creative human always wanting to learn a new skill. She learned how to do stain glass pieces. She did watercolor painting. One of her greatest love was wood carving. When Margo retired, she became involved with the wood carving community. She dabbled in sewing. Margo did try to pass along these skills to her children. They are still learning. Margo’s other greatest love was the outdoors. She loved gardening in her yard. She loved to ride her bike. Even in later years she bought herself a tricycle so she can continue to ride for as long as she could. She has passed that bike on to one of her best friends Patsy Holmes. Patsy and Margo worked together at Oakwood Lutheran Homes till Margo retired and then stayed best friends. Patsy was always there for mom. Margo leaves behind her wife Sarah Newport. They have been together for over 35yrs. Margo leaves her two children Tracey Kealey, and Gary (Kristi) Kealey; and two stepchildren Katie (Willy) Hilst and Sarah (Joe) Winter. She is loved by grandchildren Breann, Samantha (Colton), Kalib, Rowan, Claire and James. She also loves her great-grandchildren Madyson and Kinsley. She is loved by her two sisters Sue Hughes and Linda Cantrell and nieces and nephews. Margo also has a best friend in Dr. Diana Lardy. Margo will be joining the earth up at Diana’s pond. Margo loved the beauty of nature in all her form. She was kind, gentle, caring, fierce, loyal, funny, and so very loving. She was not liking the disease Alzheimer’s. She fought it to the very end. Margo ended her journey with that disease her way. She lost so much, and she knew she didn’t belong here anymore. She went to a place where she believed she could be herself again. She joined her family on the other side. Even though we miss her so much in this world we know she is in a place she is loving. Our family wants to give so many thank you’s to the following: To Agrace HospiceCare. The Red team is amazing. Her RN Kelly Landphier, and SW Sherry Olson. You two are so amazing. You and your teams, the people that you brought to Margo. Treated her with such respect and loved her almost as much as we did. Everyone at Agrace that encountered her was and are so amazing. You gave us a sense of security when it came to our Mom’s cares. Triage and the CAT team, you knew our mom through me and you all treated her so well. Thank you will never be enough. But you have our love forever. Hyland Crossings, you all loved our Mom so much. You did everything you could to make her stay with you very special. You all amaze us. We are so thankful for the amazing love and care you gave Margo. Thank you Thank you, Thank you! You are forever in our hearts. To Agrace Memory Care In Patient Unit. You gave such special care to Margo during her last journey on this earth. You made sure she was so comfortable. That she was in as less pain as possible. Each and every one of you made sure her family and she were well taken care of. Your unit is and will always be so special to our family. The kindness and compassion shown to our family shows how very special you are. Keep doing what you are doing. I know Margo knows all this. She did it her way. She will greatly be missed by us all. She did not want a funeral. Gary and I will have a celebration of life for our mom in the Spring/Summertime. So, she can enjoy the great outdoors. Please keep an eye open for a date and time. If you would like to be present, please let Tracey or Gary Kealey know. We love you Mom. Say hi to the family for us.