Margaret 'Maggie' Elizabeth Johnson Martin

1941 - 2018

Margaret "Maggie" Elizabeth Johnson Martin, 77, of Watseka, IL passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at McLaren Bay Region in Bay City, MI.

She was born July 12, 1941 to Mercedes (McMullen) and J. Lennart Johnson in Bay City, MI.

Maggie attended the University of Michigan and received her Masters in Piano Performance. She was an accomplished pianist and also played the violin and cello. Early in her career she taught at both Interlochen School of Performing Arts and Central Michigan University. Maggie then moved to Chicago and started her own company selling computers. Maggie was named Chicago Businesswoman of the Year in the late 1960's. It was this honor that gained her an interview with WBBM Radio, which in turn led to her being introduced to "Mr. Wonderful".

She married Richard "Dick" Martin on August 18, 1973 at the 4th Presbyterian Church in Chicago.

In the early 1980's, Maggie, along with other leading women in the community, began the Iroquois Arts and Education Council. The purpose was to bring string, vocal, and piano lessons to the community. Maggie enjoyed tennis and snow skiing. When she realized that neither of these were going to be something Dick would do, she picked up the game of golf. She had six holes in one. In 1989, Maggie became the General Manager of WGFA Radio. She took the station to the full 50,000 watts it is today and made several positive improvements. Maggie served as Chairperson of the IMH Development Council from 1991-2006. During her tenure as Chair, over $5 million had been generously gifted from area residents and businesses to support the growth of IMH. She served on the IMH Board of Trustees from 2003-2014. Maggie was also on the Board of Governors at the Country Club of Florida in Boynton Beach Florida. Dick and Maggie enjoyed vacationing to Delray Beach Florida during the winters. She was an avid reader. And she and Dick thoroughly enjoyed cocktail hour with the neighbors at the Coney Avenue Drinking Club. Maggie was a kind, generous, spiritual, and loving woman who left her mark on all who knew her. She never met a stranger. She was a dedicated servant to her Lord, church, family and community.

Maggie was preceded in death by her parents and 1 grandchild. Maggie is survived by her husband of 45 years, Dick Martin of Watseka; children, Sam (Liz) Martin, Nancy (Mark) Burns, Daniel Martin, Gregory Martin, and Stacey Smith; her step-mother, Bonnie Johnson of Bay City, MI; sister, Debra Gruber of Bay City, MI; brothers, Fred Johnson of MI, Thomas (Brenda) Teeple of Essexville, MI and Pat (Nancy) Johnson of Bloomfield Hills, MI; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka from 4-7 pm on Friday, October 26, 2018. The funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Watseka on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 9:30 am with the Reverend Tom McCann officiating.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Watseka, the School of Music at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Iroquois Memorial Hospital, or curepsp.org.

Please share a memory of Maggie at knappfuneralhomes.com.