Margaret E. Noel

Margaret Eloise (Pilling) Noel was born March 11, 1917 on the family farm east of Macedonia, Iowa, the oldest of three children of Ruth Adeline (Long) and William Harvey Pilling. She grew up in the "Donia" area and graduated from Macedonia High School in 1935. Margaret had a keen sense of adventure and following school moved to California where she worked in an aircraft plant during World War II. This was her way of contributing to the war effort and helping secure America's victory in that great conflict which brought her great pride as an American and a patriot.

Margaret and Lawrence Major "Swede" Noel were married on April 24, 1937 in Council Bluffs, Iowa and their marriage was blessed with a son, Ronald Carol, born on December 2, 1945. Ron suffered from many health conditions and died on February 26, 1950 at the age of four. Margaret was a great mother who carefully cared for the special needs of her son and bore the joys and burdens of his life and passing with great class and grace.

Margaret and Swede were well known for their hard work and entrepreneurial spirit and owned several local businesses during their lives here. For many years they operated both a meat market and a grocery store in Macedonia. Swede also owned and operated a rock hauling business until health problems eventually forced him to retire.

Margaret and Swede were married 56 wonderful years when Swede passed away at their home in Macedonia on October 2, 1993. Margaret continued to make her home in Macedonia until 2008, when she moved to the Oakland Manor in Oakland, Iowa.

Margaret was proud to be a homemaker and loving wife. She was very involved in the community and an active member of the Macedonia United Methodist Church, Eastern Star, United Methodist Women's Group, and the American Legion Auxiliary. Margaret especially enjoyed reading, listening to music, completing complex and difficult crossword puzzles and walking. She didn't know a stranger and would often walk right up to start a conversation with anyone. Margaret loved visiting with her friends and spending time with her extended family of nieces and nephews.

Perhaps the most important things in Margaret's life aside from her family and friends were her devotion to her church and her country. She was always behind the scenes, ensuring the church was immaculate and well-supplied. She was a committed patriot who each day flew the American flag outside her home in Macedonia, choosing not just any flag, but American flags which had been flown over the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Margaret passed away on November 28, 2011 at the Oakland Manor at the age of 94 years, 8 months, and 17 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband Lawrence; son Ronald; brother Doyle Pilling; and by nine brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Margaret is survived by her brother LaVerne "Togg" Pilling and wife Lavonne "Bonnie" of Macedonia; sisters-in-law, Marilynn Pilling of Carson, IA, and Gayle "Dee Dee" Jones of Savannah, GA; her extended family of nieces and nephews; and many friends.

A memorial fund has been established.