Margaret A. Wilkinson

Margaret A. Wilkinson, 90, a resident of Davenport, formerly of Ottumwa, Davenport, Rock Island, and Bettendorf died Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at Genesis East, Davenport.

Margaret Ann McKillip was born on October 14, 1932, in Ottumwa, Iowa, a daughter of Lawrence and Veronica (Mousel) McKillip.  Margaret graduated from Ottumwa Heights Academy in 1950 and attended Ottumwa Heights College.   She was united in marriage to Edward Francis Wilkinson in Ottumwa on November 26,1953.  He preceded her in death on June 20, 2013, following almost 60 years of marriage.

Margaret held a variety of positions during her working years, including office manager, senior staff accountant and director of a neighborhood youth corp.   She was named Woman of the Year for the Goldfinch Chapter of the American Women’s Association in 1981.    

Margaret was the first woman appointed to the Ottumwa Water Works Board of Trustees.  She served on the steering committee to establish a home for battered women in Ottumwa and served as its first Chairman of the Board.   She was a member of the Mt. Carmel Circle, the Catholic Service Board, PEO chapter GQ in Rock Island, the Iowa Basketmakers Guild and she served on the Parish Council at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.  

Beyond spending time playing bridge and mahjong with her many friends, Margaret loved to quilt, smock, and cross-stitch.   She smocked over 500 WeCare gowns over 16 years for stillborn babies for use at local hospitals.  She won first place in cross-stitch in 2009 at a Plus 60 competition.   She was particularly proud of having provided home communion to shut-ins for over 35 years.  

Those left to honor her memory are her children: Dr. Mark (Dana) Wilkinson, Bettendorf, Martin (Celeste) Wilkinson, Queen Creek, Arizona, Dr. Ann Wilkinson (Dorene Novotny) Portland, Oregon and David (Brenee) Wilkinson, Henderson, Nevada; grandchildren: Dr. Lyndsey (Kyle) Day, Dr. Shaun (Dr. Ginna) Wilkinson, Adam, Brad, Wally, Michael (Stephanie) Wilkinson, Katie (Greg) Napper, Nick (Amanda) Browne, Chad (Angelina) Browne, Zack Browne; great-grandchildren: Tatianna, James, Margaret, Lyla, and Willig Day, Isabel and Sophia Wilkinson, Charles and Maia Napper, Madison, Wyatt, Gracen, Colton, Alyssa, Tristan, Annabella and West Browne; a brother, Donald McKillip, Lawrence, Kansas; sister-in-law, Alma Jean Coffin, Ottumwa; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Wilkinson was preceded in death by grandson, Jared Wilkinson, great-grandchildren: Ada and Iris Day, her parents, and siblings: John and James McKillip, and Marilyn Gilliland, Nancy Farrell, and Mary Christiansen.  May they rest in peace.

Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday July 13, 2023, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m.  The Mass will be livestreamed by visiting St. John Vianney Catholic Church.  Visitation will take place prior to the Mass beginning at 9:30 a.m. at St. John Vianney.  A luncheon will follow in the activity center at church. Private burial will take place later in Calvary Cemetery, Ottumwa.  Keeping with Margaret’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Birthing + Bereavement Suite at Genesis Medical Center, Next Step Strategies, Inc., 8909 SE Tolbert St, Clackamas, Oregon 97015 or St. John Vianney Parish.

The family would like to thank the care team at Genesis East, her hospice and palliative care nurses, all the nurses and staff at Senior Star and Home Instead Senior care for the compassionate care given to Mrs. Wilkinson.