Margaret "Peggy" Jane Richardson

Margaret “Peggy” Jane Richardson, 75, of Palm Harbor, Florida, formerly of Onawa, Iowa, passed away, Thursday, December 1, 2022 at her residence.

A funeral mass will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 17, 2022 at St. John Catholic Church in Onawa, Iowa, with Father Michael Erpelding, celebrant, officiating. Burial will follow in the Whiting City Cemetery, Whiting, Iowa. Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:30 P.M. Friday, December 16, 2022, with a Scriptural Wake Service at 5:30 P.M. at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Margaret “Peggy” Jane (Morrow) Richardson was born on October 13, 1947 in Onawa, Iowa, to Patrick Morrow and Irma (Springer) Morrow. Peggy attended school in Onawa graduating in 1965. She played JV Basketball and participated in cheerleading, chorus and band while in high school. Peggy’s college life started at Clarke University for her freshman year and then she transferred to Creighton, graduating in 1969 with a degree in education. Peggy started her teaching career in Omaha at Ponca Elementary.

Peggy and Larry Richardson were united in marriage at St. John Catholic Church Onawa, Iowa, on September 5, 1970. They started their life together in Lincoln, Nebraska where Larry attended UNL and Peggy substitute taught for two years. They welcomed their first son, Shane, on December 5, 1972. Upon Larry's graduation in 1973 the Richardson family started their 21-year Navy Adventure together in Pensacola, Florida. The family journey continued on to Brunswick, Maine where their second son, Jeffrey, was born on November 8,1975 with a big assist from the squadron wives since the squadron was deployed. Next destination was Monterey, California where Chad was born on March 2,1979 at Ft. Ord. Peggy and family made sure to visit family and friends in the Onawa area every time their travels would allow. Peggy often had to be both mother and father during Larry's 6–7-months overseas deployments. The boys were very active in extra-curricular activities, sports and scouting, and Peggy made sure they didn't miss a meeting, a practice or a game. Peggy was very good at crafts and her finished work greatly improved the Navy housing decor. The family decided during their final assignment in Newport, Rhode Island that Florida should be their final destination. Peggy and family retired from the Navy in 1991 and moved to Palm Harbor, Florida. 

Peggy decided she wanted to start teaching again, first substituting and then full time. She taught 2nd grade in the Pinellas County School System for 13 years at Sutherland and Lake St. George Elementary. Peggy was a dedicated teacher who understood the learning process, but more importantly knew how to communicate and engage her students so they could succeed. Her students smiled, laughed, and learned. Peggy retired in 2009 and the Richardson's started a new journey traveling the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee eventually locating in Mountain City, Tennessee.

As her sons started their own journey, Peggy was blessed with five grandchildren; Kayla (15) was first, Braeden (13), Grace (11), Ryelin Jeffrey (9), and Eliana (6). What a gift for Peggy, and three were girls. Each grandchild was special to her and she found a way to engage them with fun educational activities. This helped them understand and appreciate their lives and their family. Peggy is famous in our family for her holiday games and scavenger hunts which always brought laughter and excitement. She enjoyed every minute with her grandchildren and they enjoyed their Grammy. In the middle of all this joy there was sorrow when our son, Jeffrey, died unexpectedly, 01/02/2012, but we have his daughter, Grace, to enjoy and she displays many of her dad’s traits.

Peggy became ill in 2016 and after many months of testing she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Rheumatoid lung with pulmonary fibrosis which had already damaged 40% of her lungs. Peggy's medical team medicated her to slow the process, but they could not repair the damage already done. Peggy died due to exhaustion, limited lung capacity and very restricted breathing on 12/01/22 while at home as she wished on oxygen and a feeding tube after a six-year battle.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Larry; two sons, Shane and Chad; daughter-in-law, Leanne; grandchildren, Kayla, Braeden, Grace, Ryelin Jeffrey, and Eliana; sister, Pamela (Morrow) Hoesing; brother, Philip Morrow; sisters-in-law, Karen (Richardson) Moberg, and Marlene (Reed) Richardson; brother-in-law, Frederick Richardson and his wife Barbara (Fiala); and many nieces and nephews.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Irma (Springer) Morrow; parents-in-law, Don and Esther (Robinson) Richardson; son, Jeffrey Richardson; brother, Patrick Morrow III; sister-in law, Cheryl (Emsick) Morrow; brothers-in law, Dr. John Hoesing, Tom Richardson, and Gene Moberg.

Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com

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