Margaret Mclaughlin

Margaret (Marge) H. Mclaughlin, 91, of West Des Moines passed away May 8, 2021 after a brief stay in hospice at Bishop Drumm Nursing Facility. She was born September 26, 1929 to Helen and Luke Miller in Mason City, Iowa. Marge graduated from Mason City High School in 1947. She attended Mason City Junior College for one year and then attended St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mason City and became a Registered Nurse in 1951. She worked as an RN for 50 years and maintained her nursing license for 60 years because…”you never know!” She worked in many areas of nursing including management and her favorites, staff development and nursing education. Her co-workers and students would tell you she was committed to her profession and a hard worker. Marge married William Mclaughlin of Belmond on September 18, 1954 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mason City. They were married 66 years until Bill passed away in January of 2021. During their time together they lived in Texas, overseas in England, Iowa City and finally Des Moines. When she and Bill retired, they spent winters in Naples, Florida which they both loved and made many, many wonderful friends there. In 1961 and 1963, Marge and Bill adopted their two children, Ann and Mark. Marge said that motherhood was a gift that she cherished more than anything in the world. She often stated she had but 3 goals in life: be a good wife, be a good nurse and be a good mother. She accomplished all 3 with honors! Marge was a longtime member of St. Mary of Nazareth Church in Des Moines. Later, she attended St. Boniface Catholic Church in Waukee and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines. Her Catholic faith was unwavering and extremely important to her. Lastly, she was one of a kind. Anyone who met her or knew her would tell you they liked her. She had an uncanny ability to make you feel as though you were the most important person in the conversation. Her gift of gab meant there was no such thing as a 5-minute conversation with her. She genuinely wanted to know who you were and what you were about. She made the world a better place in which to live. Surviving her are daughter Ann Mclaughlin, West Des Moines and son Mark Mclaughlin (Hugo) of Chicago. She is proceeded in death by her husband Bill of 66 years, both her parents, sister Marilyn, brother Chuck and sister Patricia. A mass and reception for both Marge and Bill will be held at a later date this summer. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please get your Covid vaccine and encourage others to do so as well.