Margaret Wallauer's Obituary
Wallauer, Margaret “Peggy” Lewis Sturzl, 90, Land O Lakes, died Tues, Nov. 15, 2017. She is the daughter of Mildred Grant and Horace H. Lewis. Born and raised in Chicago by her mother and step father, Joseph Sturzl, a motorcycle racer, she rode in side cars and on the back of cycles across the country. After acquiring a driver’s license she would test Indian Motorcycles’ new smaller, light weight designs in the early 50’s. She was a member of the Highway Ramblers Motorcycle Club. She met and married the love of her life at a motorcycle dance. After the birth of her third child the life of cycling was left behind to raise children. Married for 53 years the couple had 11 children.
An only child, Peggy, spent a great deal of time around adults and occupied herself with drawing and painting. Her talent was recognized at an early age and she attended the Chicago Art Institute on scholarship. Watercolor was her favorite medium and she produced a legacy of beauty by painting, flowers, birds, children and Native American Indians. She belonged to several Watercolor Artist Societies over the years and showed some of her work.
Peggy was a Catholic and a lifetime member of the Sacred Heart Women’s Club during the years she lived on Davis Islands in Tampa, FL. The family also resided for 7 years in San Diego, California, 8 years in San Antonio, Florida with the couple moving to Land O Lakes for the retirement years.
She is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Russell V. Wallauer and son, Russell J. She is survived by 10 of her children and their families: Margaret Bradley (Herbert), Kathleen Ragsdale (Mark), Patricia Welch (Wayne), Michael Wallauer (Michael Jean), William Wallauer (Elizabeth Long), Elizabeth Bradley (Mark), Joseph Wallauer, James Wallauer (Thelma), Mary Bitar (Sam Williams) and Lura Lee Dieguez (John). The number of descendants presently include 11 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Services Tues., Nov. 21, 2017 Trinity Memorial Gardens. Visitation at 11:00 a.m. Services at Noon followed by burial. A reception luncheon will follow at Trinity Memorial Gardens.
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