Margaret O. Leerssen, 88, of Lake City

Margaret O. Leerssen, 88, of Lake City died Monday at the Lake City Nursing Home, Hospice.

Margaret was born Aug. 18, 1920, to Orie (Olive Krause) Hislop in Minneapolis. She graduated from Lake City High School in Lake City in 1938. She married Herman W. Leerssen on Sept. 19, 1938, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake City. Margaret worked as a kidney dialysis home technician for Alvin Allers. She was the first person in Wabasha County to offer this in home care. She also worked as a ward clerk at the Lake City Hospital for 30 years. Her husband, Herman, passed away in 1988. She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and its the choir, Altar Guild, Ladies Aid, Mission Society. She also enjoyed reading to the children at the school. Margaret was a member of the Twin Cities Scottish Club, a member of Centering Prayer Group at the Villa Maria, wrote a book cover for Sister Angela at the Villa Maria, was a member of Lake City Writer's Club and a published poet. She also assisted in the writing of the Lake City Book. She was a Prayer Warrior, and loved spending time with her family, writing, reading and flower gardening.

Margaret is survived by son, David B. (Barbara) Leerssen of Mesquite, Texas; two daughters, Lynne Tipcke of Red Wing and Judith Schleier of Port Washington, Wis.; one brother Leonard O. Hislop of Lake City; 12 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; a brother in-law Walter (Eunice) Leerssen of Eugene, Ore.; two sisters in-laws, Dorothy Leerssen of Duluth, Minn., Jeanette Leerssen of Denver, Colo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman; son, Arthur Leersssen; grandson, Dewey Tipcke; a brother William Hislop.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday July 24, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Lake City, with the Rev. Dennis Valleau officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel Lake City. Friends may also call one hour before the services at the church. Pallbearers will be Jerry Tipcke, Dan Tipcke, Pete Poncelet, Craig Anderson, Lance Hislop and Frank Sievers. Honorary pallbearers will be David M. Leerssen, Eric Leerssen, Wayne Leerssen, Michael Leerssen, Matthew Leerssen, Jeff Hislop and John Fritts. Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Parochial School.

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