Margaret Alice Lemons, Appleton, age 83, passed away peacefully at her own home on Saturday morning, August 8, prayerfully surrounded by her family. "Maggie," as her loving husband, Tom, often called her, was born in Appleton on April 30, 1932, to Benjamin and Emma Zuleger. Maggie attended St. Therese through her elementary and junior high years, and then moved on to Appleton High School (West), where she graduated in 1950. While at Appleton High she met Tom Lemons, and the two fell deeply in love and later married on November 30, 1951. Their love for the Fox Valley kept them in Appleton, where they raised a large family of seven children, the sacred focus and mission of Margaret's life. Indeed, family meant everything to Margaret and her husband, Tom, and she displayed this loving passion through the very last days of her life.

First and foremost, Margaret was always thinking and sacrificially working in behalf of her seven children and their families, Ret. Colonel - US Army Steve (Pamela, PhD), Park City, Utah; Dianne RN (Hans Van Lith), Appleton; Gary (Leanne) Appleton; Dr. Mark (Anne), Mendon, Massachusetts; Tim (Lisa), Appleton; Amy (Ret. Lt. Col. Pat McDermott), Tampa, Florida; Beth (Mike Lewis), Bend, Oregon. Margaret dearly loved her 22 grandchildren (many of whom she would Facebook with often), and her three great-grandchildren. She was also eagerly anticipating the upcoming birth of a fourth great-grandchild.
For many years Margaret worked at the Meade Street Ford Rexall pharmacy. She always believed in a work before play mentality, and diligently sought to promote that discipline and perspective in her children's and grandchildren's lives. After retirement in 1995, Margie and Tom travelled the world helping to raise and nurture many of their children's children, instilling in them a desire to excel in everything they did.

In 2006, Margie and Tom settled in Tampa, Florida, a place she and Tom loved and where they forged and cultivated many enduring and treasured friendships. In 2015, the memories of home in the Fox Valley and her lifelong friends, called Margie and Tom back to Appleton.

Margaret wasn't a person who just indulged in an "all work and no play" lifestyle. She had several passions and hobbies, the greatest being a love for the game of golf. She played the game right up to the age of 83, enjoying a family scramble event in Tampa, Florida, just before a grandson's wedding April 24th. Maggie and Tom introduced their children to the great game of golf at an early age, and played it with them all over the world, including a special round at the historic St. Andrews links course in Scotland, where she parred the 18th hole while teeing it up with her husband Tom and firstborn son, Steve. One of Margaret's absolute favorite places to play was at Fox Hills, Mishicot. For over 25 years her children, their loving spouses, grandchildren, wonderful nieces and nephews, and other family and friends, would gather for a week of summer golf and fun in the pool, cultivating memories that will last forever.

Many of those great memories, along with tears and laughter, were shared and reminisced by her seven children, their spouses, and numerous grandchildren at a recent celebration of Margaret's life, already held on Sunday, August 9, (in the home where Margie raised her children, a place often referred to as, "the little red ranch."). These were the private last wishes of a quiet, sensitive, and hard working woman who will be loved and cherished forever.

We will miss you Margie Marg (as Dad would also adoringly call you). You were a wonderful wife, mother, grandma, great grandma and dear friend. We all know you were the unsung hero; the glue, rock, quarterback, and competitive captain of the family. We entrust you to the loving arms of the Great Physician and Good Shepherd of Psalm 23, and shall look forward to a great reunion for eternity. Much love, Your grateful and admiring family and friends.

Margaret's family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dr. Swanson, the 8th floor professional staff at Appleton Medical Center, and the angelic ThedaCare Hospice team for their support, compassion and care.