Margaret L. Rauch St.John

1927 - 2013

Margaret L. Rauch St.John

Pleasant Hill

Margaret L. Rauch St.John of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, died Saturday, August 31, 2013, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Margaret was the daughter of Forrest H. Rauch and Dorothy L. Toney Rauch. She was born at home in rural Grand River, Iowa on November 18, 1927. She lived for 20 years in rural Grand River. She then met Galen Barmore St.John; they married on November 15, 1948, in Leon, Iowa. To this union, they were blessed with three children: Linda and twins, Doyle Ray and Dottie Kay.

Margaret leaves this world a well loved woman and will surely be welcomed into Heaven by her Savior, family and friends.

Margaret is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Galen; three children: Linda of Bloomington, MN, Doyle (Shelia) of Canton, TX, and Dottie (Jerry) Johnson of West Des Moines, IA; grandchildren: Sharon (Rick) Andrews of Des Moines, IA, Galen (Denise) St.John of Decatur County, IA, Shawn (Sandra) St.John of Canton, TX, James (Liberty) Johnson of Minnetonka, MN, and Daniel R. Johnson of West Des Moines, IA; great-grandchildren: Kayla and John Andrews, Erica and twins, Cody and Tyler St. John, Jacob, Isaac, Grace and Noah Johnson, Noah Streeter, and Emily, Alan and Jesse St. John; sisters: Hazel Smith and Gloria Pierson; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents and brothers, Junior, Donald and James Rauch.

Margaret graduated from University of Northern Iowa and taught in rural schools before her marriage. Galen and Margaret made their first home in Decatur County, Iowa, before moving to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1953; then to Pleasant Hill, Iowa, where they lived from October 11, 1964 to the present. Margaret helped start their independent insurance agency and she was also a long time member of the East Gate Eastern Star.

Family was Margaret's top priority. She was the best mother and grandmother in the world, a wonderful homemaker, an outstanding cook, and an accomplished gardener. She was a lifelong learner, mastering the internet and social media within the last four years, enabling her to make many valued friends.

To say that she will be greatly missed by all family and friends is an understatement.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Hamilton's Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines with burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 4, also at the funeral home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.