Margaret Elizabeth Fleming, Janesville  (1916 - 2013)

August 12, 1916 - February 25, 2013
Margaret Elizabeth Fleming, age 96, of Janesville, passed away on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at Cedar Crest Health Center, where she has been a patient for several years. She was born on Aug. 12, 1916, in Janesville, the daughter of John Patrick and Margaret Jane (Gannon) Fleming. Margaret received her elementary education at St. Patrick’s School and transferred to St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1929, when her parents moved to 725 Fifth Ave. (now Eisenhower Ave.). She graduated from 9th grade at St. Mary’s in 1931, and from Janesville High School in 1934. Margaret attended Whitewater College for a year before completing a business course at the Janesville Vocational School. She worked for a short time in the billing department of General Motors and at United Milk Products in Elkhorn. In 1940, she became an employee of Wisconsin Bell Telephone Co. (AT&T) from which she retired in 1977, after 37 years in management. Margaret was active in the community and was proud to have co-chaired the Rock County March of Dimes Campaign when the Salk vaccine became available to eliminate polio. She was proud to be among the members of the Rock Valley Chapter of Telephone Pioneers of America. She was equally proud to have been a charter member of the Zonta Club of Janesville, over which she presided as President for two terms. She also was a life long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Margaret is survived by her sister, Rosemary Fleming Cash of Janesville; a niece, Kathleen Ann (John) Holz of Bettendorf, IA; two nephews, James R. (Denise) Cash of West Chester, PA, and Robert J. (Joan) Cash of Evansville; great nieces and nephews: Michelle Cash, Sarah (Nathaneal) Keene, Matthew (Caitlin) Cash, Rebecca Holz, Jenessa Holz, Jacob Holz, Matthew (Tiffany) Holz; and great-great nieces and nephews: Violet and Wyatt Holz, and Alex John Bell. Margaret had a special place in her heart for the “3 Ryan girls” and their families who lent helping hands through the years. They are Colleen and Bruce Rau, Laura, Rachael and Julie, Kathy and Kelly McCarthy, Megan and Leann; Rosemary and Scott Gerarden, Sarah and Ashley; and special friend, Joan Kelley.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, Janesville, with Rev. Stephen J. Umhoefer presiding. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Friends may call on Saturday from 10 until 11 a.m. at ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made in Margaret’s name to your favorite charity. SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY is assisting the family. For online obituary and registry: www.schneiderfuneraldirectors.com
Margaret thoroughly appreciated the spiritual kindness she received from Fr. James Kuhn and Sr. Lucentia of St. Patrick’s and from Sr. Ruth Brings of St. Mary’s. She was grateful to Dr. Aaron Best and the staff at St. Mary’s Dean Clinic, and the entire staff of Cedar Crest who all cared for her every need through the years.