Margaret M. Swartzendruber

Margaret M. Swartzendruber, 82, of Saginaw, passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at Heritage Hill Memory Care in Caro MI under hospice care.  She was born on September 21, 1940 in Caseville Township. She was the youngest of nine children born to the late George and Georgia (McKeage) Morgan.  On November 26, 1960, she married Lowell Thomas Swartzendruber.  They enjoyed a wonderful life together for 57 years until his passing in 2018.

Margaret graduated from Pigeon High School in 1958.  She attended Harper Hospital School of Nursing in Detroit and graduated in 1961.  She became Director of the Bay City General Hospital Migrant Health Clinic in 1973.  She earned a Bachelor of Science degree with Cum Laude honors at Saginaw Valley State College in 1974 and a Master of Science in Nursing at Wayne State University in Detroit in 1981.  She spent the majority of her nursing career at the Saginaw County Health Department where she became the Director of Personal and Preventative Health Services.  She received many distinguished recognition awards during her career.

She was a member of Community of Christ Church (previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and served in several pastoral positions.  After retiring from the health department, she became a Bishop in 1994.  She earned a Master of Arts in Religion with honors at Park College in Parkville, MO in 1998.  She delivered sermons, attended conferences and silent retreats, officiated marriages, hosted and taught labyrinth meditation events, and counseled.  Her favorite Saint was St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment and animals.  She also volunteered at Zauel Library.

She enjoyed skiing, riding on the back of Lowell’s motorcycles for short trips to get ice cream and long cross-country trips.  She was an avid reader and supported Lowell’s hobbies of beekeeping and gardening.  She expressed genuine love, respect, and compassion for all living beings.

Margaret is survived by her children Saun Keller of Harbor Beach, Lowell “Tom” Jr. (Judy) Swartz of Ionia, and Sonia Swartzendruber (Kenneth Webber Jr.) of Millington; granddaughters Sarah (Rilee) Bouwkamp of Kentwood and Sabrina (Pablo) Rodriguez of Milwaukee, and 38 nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and all siblings (George Morgan Jr, Bill Morgan, Ken Morgan, Xelle Morgan, Sam Morgan, Wanda Thomas, Ann Morgan, and Carl “Buck” Morgan).

Thank you to the Heritage Hill staff for their exceptional care.  Thanks also to Judie Allen for residing in Margaret’s home for days at a time assisting us in keeping her there as long as possible.  Family and friends are welcome to celebrate her life at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, 7356 W. Michigan Ave, Pigeon, MI 48755 on Saturday, April 15th.  Visitation 10am-12pm. Program 12pm-1pm.  Luncheon to immediately follow at First United Methodist Church in Pigeon.