On February 20, 2024, Margaret B. Hoefle (89) passed away suddenly, leaving her family deeply shocked. Margaret built deep bonds with and was uniquely beloved by so many different groups of people, old and young, throughout her life. Born on July 9, 1934, Margaret grew up in an old square two-story farmhouse just northwest of Leeton, Missouri with her three siblings Mary, Cliff, and Jim. Life in Missouri was filled with tending the farm and riding horses, especially her Morning Star—which Jim says did not perform as well as his horse Beauty. While attending college in Kansas, she met her husband Bob, with whom she had what she would say was her biggest accomplishment, her four boys: Dan, Andy, Joel, and Jay. Margaret's family meant the world to her. From her siblings to her children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This love and care extended beyond family to friends and then friends of friends, in a way that can only be described as inspired by the amazing networks of God's love. Margaret spent the majority of her career as an educator, touching the lives of many families across Freeport and Dakota. She believed that, "Teachers are given many rewards and the greatest of all is certainly not monetary but knowing that you have made a difference in a child's life. My heart is warmed whenever I meet former students and am recognized and greeted warmly, even after all of these years." Although she retired in 1994, Margaret's love of teaching kept her drawing back to the school, where she eventually received the Master Teacher distinction in 2002 from the Dakota Community District, the second person to be so honored at the time. Margaret says her favorite home she ever lived in was in Lake Summerset, where she and Bob collected a trove of memories of fishing, entertaining friends, late night card games, book-club meetings, and frog spearing. She is most known by her friends for her smile, numerous interests, and desire for knowledge. An avid lover of music, Margaret was involved in many church music programs, playing the church organ for 11 years at Durand United Methodist Church, directing the Tone Chimes, and serving as church pianist. From quilting and baking to cutthroat games of euchre, cribbage, bridge, Scrabble, mahjong, and Aw Heck, Margaret was always active. After her husband passed away in 2004, she said she went onto a new era of independence as she traveled across the world to places such as New Zealand, Thailand, and Switzerland, always in the pursuit of knowledge and exploration. The values of kindness and quick wit that Margaret exuded live on in her children and their children.

Margaret is survived by her sons, Daniel (Marge) Hoefle of Rockford; Andy (Heather) Hoefle of Wilmington, NC; Joel (Trish) Hoefle of Chiang Rai, Thailand and Jay (Sally) Hoefle of Durand. She also leaves behind her brother, James (Wilma) Baile of Warrensburg, MO and her sister, Dr. Mary (Bob) Goetze Ph.d Emerita of Bloomington, IN. Her legacy includes 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Her sister-in-law is Beth (Cliff) Baile of Kirkwood, MO and Jeri (Jim) Wilson of Des Moines, IA. Her brother-in-law is Bill (Jan) Hoefle of Dakota. She is preceded in death by her parents (Harold and Salome), her husband (Bob), her brother (Dr. Clifton A. Baile), and her granddaughter (Brie Hoefle).

A memorial has been established in her name for VOICES Domestic Violence Program (where she volunteered at VOICES Book Nook for many years). There will be a visitation held on Thursday, February 29th from 2-6 pm at Faith United Methodist Church of Freeport on Walnut Ave. Her memorial service will be held the following day, March 1st at 11 am—also at Faith UMC. Her final resting place will be next to her husband at Dakota cemetery. Condolences can be left for the family at www.walkermortuary.com.