Margaret E. Redig

Margaret Eleanor Grace Hartmann Redig passed on in her 96th year of life on July 4, 2008 at her farm home where she had lived for 69 years. She showed incredible determination, grace, and courage as she lived with arthritis that impacted her physical ability to do some of the things she loved. Margaret was born on October 6, 1912 to Aloysius and Elizabeth (Rachel) Hartmann in Wadena, Minnesota, the eighth of nine children. She grew up on the family farm near Staples, MN and attended area schools. She was a direct descendant of Minnesota Territorial Pioneers who secured farmland in Carver County (Chanhassen) from the US Government in 1850 before Minnesota became a state. On September 6, 1939 she married Gerold Redig and together they farmed in Wilson Township where they raised seven children. Margaret was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wilson; the Ladies Aid, WCCW, Catholic Aid Society. She was involved in the Homemakers, 4-H, and School District (Club) 99. Margaret loved gardening and valued her connection to the land and soil that brought her close to God. Her gardens provided generous amounts of vegetables and fruits for immediate use as well as for preserving. She always made room for flowers in her vegetable garden saying, "flowers are food for the soul". Margaret enjoyed raising and tending farm animals ranging from horses, cows, pigs, and sheep to geese and chickens. Over the years, she enjoyed crocheting, sewing, and making "jean quilts" from well-worn farm overalls and jeans. She had a keen interest and concern about what was happening in her community and world. Although her formal education ended with the eighth grade, she was an eager, life-long learner and avid reader reading the daily paper to the day she died. Margaret is survived by her seven children, Theresa (Donald) Yaeger of Ferryville, WI, Sr. Ann Redig of Rochester, MN, Mariar (Patrick) Gannon of Bloomington, MN, Ardis (Robert) Johnson of Surprise, AZ, Robert (Kathy Foster) Redig of Winona, Joan Redig (Wayne Purtzer) of Houston, MN, and Jane Redig (John Williams) of Menomonie, WI; 13 grandchildren, Kara Yaeger (Nancy Wehinger), Jeni Yaeger (Eric Jones), Richard Yaeger, Matthew (Alicia) Yaeger, Dean (Jennifer) Gannon, Bradley Gannon (Deborah), Nathan (Kristin) Johnson, Peter (Paula) Johnson, Jeffrey Johnson (Krissandra Anneca Anfinson), Isaac (Lauren) Redig, Eryn Redig, Ray (Tonya) Purtzer, Jill (Jay) Reed; 14 great grandchildren, Riley, Alexandra, Will, Connor, Jacob, Jessica, Kaitlyn, Breanna, Makenna, Draven, Zechaiah, Bennett, Campbell, and Cameron; one sister, Frances Hartmann Ostrowski; two brothers-in-law, Arthur (Lorraine) Redig and Wilfrid (Margureite) Redig of Winona and many nieces, nephews, neighbors, relatives, and friends. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerold; her sisters, Mary, Regina, Barbara, Magdalena, Sr. Constantia, Elizabeth; and her brother, John. A Mass of Christian Burial for Margaret will be at 11 a.m. Friday July 18 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Wilson, with the Rev. Marreddy Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be at Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery, Wilson. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 17 at the Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service - Hansen Goodview Chapel, and beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at the church. There will be a prayer service at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Thursday.Memorials may be directed to any of the following: Land Stewardship Project, Winona Hospice, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church--Wilson, Sisters of St. Francis, Rochester, Women's Resource Center--Winona, Winona Catholic Worker.Please feel free to share a memory of Margaret with her family, sign the on-line guestbook and view her Video Tribute at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/23271