Margaret Banwell

Margaret Banwell

Margaret Ellen Banwell of Barnum, Iowa was born on November 27, 1920 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Margaret was raised on the Oakdale Dairy Farm west of Fort Dodge. Friends & family knew her as “Mar”.

Her parents had hoped that she would be a teacher. Trying to be the dutiful daughter, she attended UNI for a short time. But Mar’s heart and soul was with the rich, black Iowa soil west of Fort Dodge. Showing her strong, independent mind at an early age, she returned home to help operate the family farm close to Tara, Iowa. She had recently retired from a long, fruitful life of farming.

She loved her cows; so much that she was frequently there to help birth the calves, no matter what time of the night, no matter what the temperature or the wind chill might be.

With nearly every calving season, Mar would end up with at least one bottle calf that she took great pleasure in feeding and nursing to health.

Parents of newborns, or newlyweds would often be presented with a beautifully embroidered quilt, framed prayer or poem by Mar.

Margaret never married, but everyone knew that the love of her life was Jack Wies, also of Barnum. Betty McFarland of Viola, Arkansas was Margaret’s closest friend through her entire life.

Family had a high priority with Mar. She will always be remembered as a social creature who thoroughly enjoyed being in close contact with her brothers, sisters and all of her nieces & nephews. They will fondly remember her broad smiles and her quick wit.

Margaret passed away on May 4th 2005 at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.

She was preceded in death by her father; Hugh, her mother Ellen, her long time companion Jack Wies and her brother John.

Margaret is survived by; her sister, Edith (Toddy) Lucas of Fort Dodge; brother, William Banwell also of Fort Dodge, 12 Nieces & Nephews and 24 Great Nieces and Great Nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30pm on Saturday, May 7th at Bruce-Graham Funeral Home with the Rev Stephen Hall of St Mark’s Episcopal Church officiating. Interment will follow in the Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home