COLUMBUS/DEFOREST--Margaret "Maggie" Obermeyer Brace age 91, passed away with her family by her side on Friday, August 28, 2015 at her home in DeForest. She was born on October 31, 1923 in Columbus to Albert and Elsie (Schilling) Obermeyer. When Maggie was born she was so tiny she slept in a small box. It's hard to believe that this tiny baby would grow up to give birth to 10 kids, one weighing over 12 pounds. Having been born on Halloween, she always said that she didn't have to wear a costume because she was already a Halloween "witch"! Maggie was married to Alvin "LeRoy" Brace on December 31, 1942. Together they had ten children; Terry (Brenda) of Columbus, Sandy (David) Johnson of Fort Mohave AZ, Tom (Mary) of Dalton, Jim (Bonita) of Manhattan KS, Jerry (died 1988), Dan (Mary) of Pickens SC, Marcia (Mark) Severson of Fort Mohave AZ, Jeanne Henning (Randy Heinreich) of Morrisonville, David (Nancy) of Madison and Lori Brace of Seattle WA; 20 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; 3 great great-grandchildren. Also survived by her brother, Robert Obermeyer of Columbus and other relatives. Maggie was a very strong willed woman and mother, having raised her large family's day to day responsibilities mostly on her own while her husband was on the road, trucking. In the '60's she even found time to work part time at the Columbus A & W. After most of the kids were grown she took a job with Columbia County Community Action. She truly enjoyed that job and the people she helped and friends she made during those years. Sadly, health issues forced her to retire early. Around that same time she assumed the role of caretaker for her husband, LeRoy, which proved to be the most demanding job of her lifetime. But she was determined to keep him out of a nursing facility and to provide the best care possible for him. Together they enjoyed car rides in the car, whether to a park or all the way to California and Mexico. She loved to drive and the sense of freedom it provided. Maggie was a loving and devoted pet owner to her dog Nipper, and cats Kiwi, Sassy, Mose, Angel and most recently Rusty. They all at one time or another were her constant companions. She enjoyed bowling at The Resort in Fall River and later in Beaver Dam, and a weekend was not a weekend to her without watching her beloved Packers and Badgers play football or basketball on TV. In 2008 Maggie made the biggest move of her life leaving Columbus to live in DeForest to be closer to more family members. One week after the move she smoked her last pack of Salems and quit smoking cold-turkey. Everyone was so proud of her for this accomplishment. In DeForest she enjoyed Wii bowling and playing cards with fellow residents at Williamstown Bay, as well as monthly pot luck dinners. In quiet times she enjoyed working on word- search puzzles until there were no new ones left to buy because she had done them all! In the end and most of all, Maggie never wanted to spend her final days in a nursing facility. She accomplished that having passed away in her own apartment in her own bed and surrounded by family who loved her dearly. She is and will continue to be missed by all who knew her through out her 92 years of life.
A graveside service was held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at HILLSIDE CEMETERY, Columbus.