Margaret M. Gustafson-Horvath

FIFE LAKE — Margaret M. (Maggie) Gustafson-Horvath, 62, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at Munson Hospice House. Maggie was the daughter of the late Donald E. and Irene (Perman) Bailey, born Sept. 6, 1945, in Lodi, Calif.

Maggie was a graduate of Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D., and attended South Dakota State University. Maggie marrIed Harvey Gustafson in 1966 and moved to Davenport, Iowa, where she had two children. In Davenport, Maggie began a career with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., eventually specializing in the sale and servicing of Retirement Plans for small- to medium-sized companies. She was considered a "pioneer" in her field as a woman in what was then a male-dominated profession. In 1987, Maggie moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where she co-founded Pension Plan Services, Inc., a pension administration firm that continues today.

After a friendship that spanned over 20 years, Maggie married her "best friend" Craig Horvath in 2004. Despite Maggie's battles with breast cancer and then leukemia, Craig and Maggie enjoyed summers with family and friends at their home in Fife Lake and winters with their "Florida" friends in Englewood, Fla.

Maggie enjoyed dancing, flower gardening, boating, cooking/entertaining and playing bridge, but one of her greatest joys was singing in the Fife Lake United Methodist Church Choir.

Maggie was most proud of her children and grandchildren. She often said that her greatest accomplishment was her children. She felt she had been able to "give them roots, and then give them wings".

Maggie is survived by her husband, Craig, of Fife Lake; stepmother Rose Bailey of Sioux Falls, S.D.; her son, Ryan (Christin) Gustafson of Naperville, Ill.; her daughter, Paige (Jeremy) Cott of Overland Park, Kan.; stepdaughters Katherine Horvath of Traverse City, Julie Horvath of Honor; and stepson Christopher Horvath of Traverse City. Her six grandchildren also survive, granddaughters Sydney and Zoe Cott of Overland Park, Kan., Elayna Vyas of Traverse City and Leaf Spaulding of Honor, grandsons Wesley and Louis Gustafson of Naperville, Ill. She is also survived by two sisters, Delores Vellinga of Denver, Colo., and Mary Beth (Scott) Erickson of Apple Valley. Surviving nieces are Elise and Olivia Erickson of Apple Valley. Surviving nephews are Zachary Erickson of Apple Valley and Adam Vellinga of Denver.

A memorial service celebrating Maggie's life will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. at the Fife Lake United Methodist Church. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be directed to the Fife Lake United Methodist Church.

The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City; www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.