Peggy Pontow

Peggy Elaine Pontow, the youngest of twelve children of John Alfred Hall and Hilda Josephine (Johansen) Hall, was born at her parent's home in Malvern, Iowa on June 28, 1925. Peggy grew up in Malvern where she graduated from high school in 1943. She worked in Malvern for the Deardorff Grocery Store and later for her brother-in-law, Albert Johnson at Johnson's Grocery.
Peggy and Marvin Edgar Pontow of rural Hastings, Iowa were married at Hiawatha, Kansas on February 25, 1946. They established their home on the Pontow farm northwest of Hastings and Peggy became a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. In 1954, they moved to Malvern and the former home of Peggy's parents. The birth of a son, James Edward Pontow, blessed their marriage and Peggy became a stay-at-home mother who also helped and worked at the farm as needed. Marvin was a member of the Dutch Gun Club and during the annual Independence Day Celebrations, he and Peggy would open their home to the members to clean up and eat during the day. Peggy served as an election clerk and had been a member of the Malvern Zoning Commission. She loved being a member of a large family and was a history resource for the family and community. She loved to read, sew, knit, and embroider. Peggy and Marvin had been married for 34 years when Marvin suddenly died on August 8, 1980.
Peggy continued to live at her home in Malvern. She enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs and working crossword and scrambled word puzzles. Peggy loved to watch and feed birds just outside her south door and had one robin that would come when she called.
Peggy died on November 15, 2003 at her home at the age of 78 years, 4 months, and 17 days. In addition to her husband Marvin, Peggy was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Elsie Johnson, Rose Chantry, Edna Moore, Laura Armstrong, Minnie Herzog, Alice Ford, and Carolyn Wieseman; brothers Lawrence Hall, Eric Hall, and Ralph Hall.
Peggy is survived by her son James Pontow of rural Hastings, Iowa and his companion Barb Cross; sister Hester Seeger of California; sister-in-law Alta Pontow of Council Bluffs, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.