Schwind, Margaret (Fox) Beaverton, Michigan. The heavens rejoiced as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and dear friend went home and reunited with Don, the love of her life, on October 7, 2024, at the age of 89.
Margaret Fox was born on May 10, 1935, in Saginaw, Michigan to Adam and Millicent (Erskine) Fox. She graduated from Hemlock High School in 1952. After graduation, Margaret worked at Woolworth Dime Store, Lufkin Rule Company and JCPenney.
Margaret met the love of her life, Donald Schwind, while in high school. They married on June 26, 1954. After marriage, they resided in Merrill, MI where they raised their 4 children, until retiring to the ‘lake’ (Wixom) in 1997. Margaret started working for Merrill Elementary School in 1977, as a recess/lunchroom aide, then as teacher’s aide until her retirement in 1997.
Margaret embodied the spirit of community. She was active with the Merrill Jaycees Women’s Auxiliary, Merrill Band Boosters, Merrill Sports Boosters and as a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years. She was on the planning committee for the Hemlock Class of 1952 annual class reunions, reuniting classmates through the 2021 Reunion. Margaret was always an advocate for helping others: she provided support to neighbors in time of need, she provided in home care for her mother in-law, she traveled to many doors to raise money for the American Heart Society, American Cancer Society and March of Dimes.
Margaret loved spending time at the lake, feeding the birds and squirrels, and tending to her flowers. She cherished meeting with her sisters each month. She treasured her friendships throughout the years - bowling with the girls, traveling with the ladies of New Club, boating and parties with the Wixom Lake gang, snowmobiling with friends of the Tri-County Snowmobile club and monthly lunches with the Merrill gang.
Above all Margaret loved her family. She treasured the time she spent with her grandchildren - playing bingo and Racko, attending their events and being their biggest cheerleader, making her famous Christmas cookies and decorating them together, and endless hours on and in the lake helping them to waterski, fish and swim. During the winter she was right beside them sledding and building snowmen, one for each of grandchildren alongside Grandma the snowman.
Surviving are four children: Karen Vallier of Midland, James Schwind of Midland, Robert (Michele) Schwind of Midland, and Ann (John) Tomlinson of Fort Gratiot; eight grandchildren: Christine (Kurt) Engelhardt, Adam (Kimber) Vallier, Cassandra Schwind (fiancé Tom Seidl), Jacob (Madi) Schwind, Zack (Amy) Hodges, David Hodges, Devin (English) Tomlinson, Jordan (Andrew) Barlass; twelve great grandchildren: Bayly (Luke) Gehring, Audrey Engelhardt, Valerie Engelhardt, Braylon Bowles, Colton Crapo, Makenna Congleton, Mavric Prell, Hunter Braxton, Gianna Hodges, Alyiana Martinez, Destiny Hodges and Hadley Barlass; her dear aunt, Shirley Erskine; her brother-in-law Paul (Jean) Schwind; many nieces, nephews and cousins; her very special friends and neighbors, Walt and Joann Kroll and Keith and Debbie Anderson; and many friends.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Don; father and mother, Adam and Millicent Fox; four sisters and brother in-laws, Maxine and Norm Goschke, Doris and Edwin Anaman, Gloria and Arland Blakely, and Peggy and Roy Greif; her father and mother in-law, Leo and Cornelia Schwind; sister in-law, Mona Schwind; daughter in-law, Kelly Schwind; granddaughter, Brittany Hayner; two nieces, Pamela Borregard, Deborah Flewelling and nephew, Matthew Schwind.
We would like to express a very special thank you to the staff of First State Home Health and Hospice Care for the exceptional care they provided over the past few w.eeks and for helping to make Margarets transition to heaven both peaceful and dignified. We will forever be grateful for the kindness and compassion they showed our entire family.
A funeral liturgy will take place for Margaret at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Grace Parish St. Anne’s Catholic Church, Edenville, MI (Note: The M-30 bridge (south of the church) will be closed for additional repairs on Thursday). Friends may visit with family at the church starting at 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial donation to Our Lady of Grace Parish or First State Home Health and Hospice Care. Arrangements are in the care of Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home. www.hallkokotovichfuneralhome.com
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