Marguerite Ann McKilligan

May 2, 1928-November 13, 2022

Marguerite, “Peg”, McKilligan, recently of Palm Springs, CA, died on November 13, 2022, after a short illness. She was born May 2, 1928 in Sidney Center, NY.

She was the mother of six children: Peter, Dennis, Catherine, Sarah, Nora and Richard. Twins, Catherine and Sarah died at birth. Marguerite was the youngest of three children born to Rex and Audrey Wakeman in Sidney Center, NY.

Peg spent much of her life as a wife and companion to Peter (known as Pete) McKilligan, who died in 2012. They were married 58 years. She moved to California from Mt. Vernon, MO, where the couple managed a small fruit and hobby farm, following Pete's death.

Prior to and throughout her marriage Peg was a well-known hairdresser of the Harper Method in the Sidney and Bainbridge, NY, area and operated her own salon for many years. She also maintained her business from her home while managing a busy household and assisting Pete in farming operations in New York, Illinois, Oklahoma and Missouri. The couple moved frequently for Pete’s job as a journeyman electrician and later settled in the Midwest as the family expanded their purebred Charolais cattle and Duroc hog herds. Peg was a constant and very vocal fan of her children at county and state fairs and many events during their high school and college years.

A friend and confidante to many and a stranger to few, Peg personified much joy and embraced any hardships with a sense of purpose. Much of her delight was in seeing her children as adults as they became successful in their lives. Tragically Peter, her oldest, diedn 1989 during the AIDS epidemic. Peg was by his side, along with his partner John Behrens, during his illness.

As a grandmother to five (Karla, Ryan, Audrey, Keegan & Justin) and great-grandmother to two, (McAlister and Rory), she handcrafted cloth children’s books to provide entertainment and pass along her love of reading. Many of her children’s friends and family have been given this treasure assembled with love from Peg’s sewing machine, which she continued to use well into her 90s, despite physical ailments that made sewing difficult.

Peg was no stranger to hard work and self-sufficiency and was active and independent until her recent illness. She loved water aerobics and happily invited family and neighbors to participate with her often. During Covid isolation she took up jigsaw puzzles and she spent hours alone and with Palm Springs neighbors putting them together.

Prior to moving to the Palm Springs area in 2018 Peg quickly became involved with neighbors and activities within the Sun City community near Lincoln, CA. Peg loved driving her golf cart to various activities, including many hours at the community’s library along with meeting friends (especially her close friend Betty Styles) at nearby restaurants.

Peg will be greatly missed by her entire family particularly her youngest son Richard who was a dutiful companion and care-giver for the past 10 years. Her son Denny and daughter-in-law Karen of Ames, Iowa, provided Peg with many trips to the ocean and wonderful food, especially her favorite caramel macchiato. Peg also became an inveterate consumer of doughnuts, having prepared them throughout the years as a family favorite. She loved taste-testing this doughy treat and had a short list of her favorite shops as sources. Her daughter Nora and son-in-law Rich treasured the time she spent with their children, especially the recent wedding of their youngest son.

In memory of Peg a memorial garden is being planted. Please send contributions to Richard at: 1565 Via Roberto Miguel, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Memorials will also be accepted by the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas, CA

Peg is survived by: Denny and Karen McKilligan of Ames, Iowa; their children Karla and Eric Peyton of West Des Moines, IA and Ryan McKilligan of St. Paul, MN; Nora and Rich Dwyer of Muscatine and their children, Audrey of Broomfield, CO; Keegan of Ft. Collins, CO and Justin and Jessica (Lopez) of North Liberty, IA and Richard McKilligan of Palm Springs, CA; grandsons, McAlister and Rory Peyton; cousins, Lucille Ingalls, of Oneonta, NY and Susan (Ralph) Giardina of Farmington, NY; brother-in-law Charles (Jean) McKilligan of Oneonta, NY; sister-in-laws Susan Rand of Reno, NV; Pat Scully of Simi Valley; Kay Smith of St, Johns, FL and Mary T. McKilligan of Acampo, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Peter A. McKilligan, 9 of his siblings and his parents; her brother Richard Wakeman, her sister Grace King and her parents Rex and Audrey Wakeman, along with her children Peter, Catherine and Sarah McKilligan.

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