Marjorie Bigelow (1915-2008)
Children of LaFayette and Estelle (Townsend) Bigelow, all born in Waukon:
15196.2511 Ruth Huestis, b 03 Nov 1883; d 28 Jan
1958 Waukon; unmarried.
15196.2512t Elton LaFayette, b 24 May 1885; d 24 July 1963 Minneapolis, MN; m 25 May 1911 Genevieve Flynn; 3 children. (see below)
15196.2513t Herbert Townsend, b 21 Aug 1887;
d 02 Dec 1939 Stoughton, WI; m 30 Aug 1922 Hazel Patterson; 2 children.
15196.2514 Estella Sears, b 10 Nov 1889; d 14 Nov
1889.
15196.2515 Keith Edwin, b 17 April 1891; d 09 March
1893.
15196.2516 Ralph Eddy, b 08 June 1893; d 12 Jan
1912 Waukon; unm.
Sources:
Bigelow Family Genealogy Vol II , p 331;
Howe, Bigelow Family of America; p 308 child;
correspondence between Bigelow Society genealogists and descendants.
Descendant note:
I am Kay (Bigelow) Mentzer Sewick. My roots are: John (1), Samuel (2),
John (3), Jotham (4), William (5), Levi (6), Lafayette, sr. (7), Lafayette
(8), Elton (9), Keith (10), Kay (11). I told her that I had a lot of
family history information that has been passed down in the family that could
add information to what is on your web site, especially about Lafayette, sr.
and after. I also find inaccurate information on your web site under the
Surnames section and I can verify the correct information.
Kay (Bigelow) Mentzer Sewick E-mail: kems@salamander.com
The following Obituary was referred from Marge
Clemens to Jean Bigelow, who sent it to me.
I think her husband Thomas Lafayette Bigelow was the son of Elton Lafayette
Bigelow (15196.2512).........ROD 2008
Marjorie Bigelow, 92, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday,
February 28, 2008 at Thornton Manor in Lansing, IA. Funeral services will
be held Monday, March 3rd at 11:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon,
with Fr. Daniel Knipper officiating. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 pm Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon,
where there will be a scripture service at 3:00 pm and a VFW Auxiliary memorial
service at 4:30 pm.
Marjorie Cleta Guider Bigelow was born on October
14, 1915 on the Allamakee County, rural Lansing, IA farm of her parents, Matthew
and Margaret (Thornton) Guider. She was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate
Conception Wexford Church. Marge graduated from Lansing High School in 1933
after taking the Normal Training curriculum and began a long teaching career,
first in rural schools in the Lansing/Waukon area and later at East Elementary
in Waukon. On October 4, 1937 she married Thomas Lafayette Bigelow
at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lansing. In spite of her already
busy schedule as a mother and teacher, she found time over the years to continue
her education at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, until graduating from
there in 1971.
Marge was an active lady all of her life. Her memberships
included the VFW Auxiliary, Veterans Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Upper Iowa
University Alumni Association, St. Patrick’s Ladies Group, New Century Club
and the Waukon Golf and Country Club. She loved children, making her career
in teaching a perfect fit, and she was very fond of visiting or hearing from
her former students. Marge also enjoyed keeping up with what was going on
in the lives of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Faith was important
to her and she considered herself lucky to be able to attend Mass almost every
day. Playing golf several times a week, getting together with friends for
coffee and cards, challenging herself with crossword puzzles and TV game shows
and doing crafts were other favorite pastimes for her. She also enjoyed going
for rides through the countryside where she grew up.
Survivors include her 4 children, Tom (Yolanda) of
Mountain Grove, MO, Bert (Carolyn) of Grasonville, MD, Ann (Bob)
White of Iowa Falls, IA and Bea (Terry) Strope of Appleton, WI;
her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Drs. Robert/Kristin White, Allison
& Alex of Mason City, Barbara/Joseph Blake, Leah & Brady of Indianola,
David White of Urbandale, Michael/Anne White, Sidney Jane of Chelsea, MI,
Andrew/Jenny Stelow, Lauren and Cindy/Rick Nadke, Josh, Jordan & Jacob,
all of Appleton, WI, Lori/Len Bacon, Nick & Brianna of Oregon City, OR
and Stacie/Barry Cain, Madison & Dalton of Edgewater, MD; a sister, Genevieve
Wild of Lansing, IA; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bill Thomson
and Jeanette Bigelow, both of Waukon; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom, who died in
1982; a son, Kenneth; 3 grandchildren, Nancy & Matthew White
and Sam Strope; and 3 sisters, Lucille Brazell, Catherine Betthauser and
Ann Thomson.
Honorary casketbearers are John & Lorna Kerndt,
LeRoy & Marcella McCabe, Jan & Lorraine Sweeney, Rupert & Martha
Caballero, Wilbur & Shirley Rose, Cod & Betty Brandt, Walter &
Gloria Larson, Genevieve Wild, Harriet Duggan, Bill Thomson and Jeanette
Bigelow. Casketbearers are her grandchildren.
rodbigelow@netzero.net
