Margaret C. Kroening, 97, Marshfield and formerly of Stratford, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, at Saint Joseph's Palliative Care, Marshfield, where she was admitted earlier that day.

Margaret, the oldest of 12 children, was born March 11, 1912, in the town of Cleveland, Marathon County, to Joseph and Mary (Ponczoch) Kroening. She attended classes in the town of Cleveland and Stratford schools. From childhood, Margaret lived with her aunt and uncle, Mary and George Kroening, Stratford. Margaret got her first job when the auditor came to check the books of the then town clerk, Uncle George. When the auditor questioned who was responsible for keeping the books, George said, "My niece, Margaret." The auditor asked George to send her in for a job at the former Employer's Mutual Insurance Co., Wausau, where she was employed for 20 years. After retiring from there, she worked on the farm with her aunt and uncle, Mary and George Kroening. In 1984, she moved to Stratford with her Aunt Mary until moving to Marshfield in 2004, when she made her home at the Angelus Retirement Community in Marshfield.

Margaret enjoyed playing cards, bingo (giving all her bingo prizes, which were stuffed toys, to the Children's Miracle Network), crafts, gardening -- both flowers and vegetable, feeding the birds and traveling in her younger years. She was a member of St. Joseph's Parish Council of Catholic Women.

She is survived by five sisters, Loretta Masanz of Marshfield, Helen Dennee of Stratford, Dorothy (Leo) Geiger of Loyal, Marcella Sitko of Mosinee, and Agnes (Orville) Landwehr of Kissimmee, Fla.; and sisters-in-law, Isabelle Kroening of Marshfield, Twyla Kroening of Stratford, and Verna Kroening of Auburndale. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews. She was cared for by her niece, Bernice, and her husband Jim Mercer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Bernard, Jerome, Melvin and Leon; and two sisters, Marie Wurl and Irene Beyer; and brothers-in-law, Felix Masanz, Edward Sitko and Joe Dennee.

Margaret's words of wisdom were, "Be honest!" and "Try your best to be a good citizen!"

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Stratford. Burial will take place in St. Joseph's Cemetery in the village of Stratford. Her nephews will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. today at Sauter/Rembs Funeral Home, Stratford, and again from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. St. Joseph's Parish Council of Catholic Women rosary service will be at 4:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be designated in her name to St. Joseph's Parish.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.