Margaret Beyerl Charnitz

Margaret Beyerl Charntiz

Our wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend entered eternal life on Saturday Sept 16, 2017. Born to Frank & Marie Beyerl on their farm in Colby, WI on August 4, 1921. Her mother died when she was 4 and Marge was raised by Pa and Ma (Frank and Elizabeth) along with their combined families of full, half and step children. Mom told many stories about the farm – walking to Dill Creek School, threshing crews, sledding, stickball games and waiting at the ditch for the Becker kids to come over. She spent her teen years living with her sister Sophie helping to raise her first niece Arlene. Sophie taught her many skills of cooking, baking, sewing and housekeeping that she passed on to her own family.

Immediately after graduating high school as valedictorian she and sister Gert headed to Chicago to live with a friend. While in Chicago friends connected her with a soldier serving in WWII who became the love of her life. Ed nicknamed her “Skeet” and carried on a wartime courtship through letters and they married on May 13, 1946. Ed always said the Beyerl sisters looked so much alike he hoped the right one showed up on their wedding day.

They were blessed with 5 children and raised them on 66th Street with love, grace and much sacrifice. Marge had to wait until she was 78 for her first grandchild, but was given 3 who brought her great joy and many smiles. Marge loved her family above all else, even if she often confused us with one another. She passed her love of gardening and green thumb on to a few of her children who carry on her tradition of flowers and vegetables. Too many of us inherited her sweet tooth!

But most important of all she passed on faith to her family. Her deep faith and love of God was what sustained her through the ups and downs of 96 years of life, more rosaries than we can count, Sunday Mass and May altars with violets and lilies of the valley from the garden. Her independent spirit, quiet candor and dry sense of humor kept us laughing until the end.

“Skeet” is survived by her beloved husband Edward, who so lovingly cared for her for over 71 years right up until her last day. Mom will be deeply missed by her children Edward (Mardi), Lynn, Mary, Gerry (Ellen) and Jim (Lisa). Nana will be forever in the hearts of her grandchildren Matthew, Allie and Bowen and Gerry’s stepson Jeremy and his boys Josh and Jacob. Marge came from a large and loving family. Her sisters Marie Waldhart and Helen Edlebeck will now represent the Beyerl girls and sister-in-law Carol Charnitz will remember her fondly. “Pete” is preceded in death by siblings and in-laws: Arnold, Frankie, Tony (Lauretta), Martha (Bill) Dolan, Sophie (Earl) Schigley, Laura (Ervin) Meyer, Johnny; Jenny (Ernie) Fiend, George Edlebeck, Ida (Ray) Draxler, PauL (Lucille), Gert (Ray) Godlewski, Jim (Rosemary), Herb Waldhart, Sonny, Gib, Vic (Julie) Charnitz, Bob Charnitz and Sally (Johnny) Brenner all warmly welcome her to their midst. Loving nieces and nephews Jeanne Beyerl, Joey Beyerl, James Meyer and Gary Waldhart greeted her in heaven, along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Services will be held at the Milwaukee Catholic Home – St. Anne Chapel, 2462 N. Prospect Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 on Thursday, Sept 21, 2017. Visitation will be from 11:00AM to Noon, followed by Mass and a luncheon. Private burial at St. Catherine Alexandria Catholic Church Cemetery, her parish for over 60 years.

Mom always said don’t give me flowers when I am gone, bring them to me while I can enjoy them; instead give the money to those who are hungry. So to accede to her wishes, please no flowers. Donations gratefully received to St. Catherine’s Food Pantry or a meal program/food pantry of your choosing.

To our wife, Mom and Grandma — we love you, and we know we will see you again.