Margaret G. Beller

Margaret Genevieve Beller, the oldest person born and raised in Woodruff passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday at the age of 100.

Margaret was the youngest of nine children of John Sr. And Margaret Veronica Beller of a pioneering family who came to Woodruff from Ironwood, Michigan in 1917 to open a grocery business.

After attending business school in Wausau, Margaret’s resourceful, independent style and strong German/Slovakian work ethic led to a colorful, fulfilling, globetrotting professional life in big cities nationwide. Margaret’s public relations career based in Chicago, found her rubbing elbows with the rich and famous as she travelled this country and beyond. While doing public relations in San Francisco she lived over the Presidio with a view of Golden Gate Bridge. While in Washington DC she lived on Embassy Row and worked a luncheon for President Harry S. Truman at the Palace Hotel.

Margaret and the Bellers before her will always be associated with church, business, and community. To honor Margaret’s contributions of a lifetime of community service to the town of Woodruff and the Beller legacy, Margaret was chosen as the Grand Marshall of Woodruffs 125th year Anniversary Parade in 2013.

In her 40s Margaret returned to her home town to care for her terminally-ill mother, for whom Margaret Street was named. After her mother died, she resumed her career in Chicago until her father began to fail, and so kissed her career goodbye for good, returning to Woodruff, to take over an arm of the Beller family business, Hub Liquors.

A cradle Catholic, Margaret was active at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Church, built on land donated by the Bellers, who were founding members of the church, where she did all manner of one-on-one volunteer projects. Even after the new church was erected and renamed Holy Family Catholic Church, Margaret continued her special activity of 25 years, which involved benefiting seniors at Christmas, her year-round project. Margaret also co-founded the Holy Family chapter of the Divine Mercy movement.

Miss Beller was involved with the founding of the Dr Kate Museum, was a friend of Howard Young’s, and a Howard Young Medical Center volunteer

On her 100th birthday last summer, Margaret decided to go all out and planned, organized and down to the last detail, orchestrated a gala dinner party at Norwood Pines Supper Club, for dozens of friends and associates. It was Margaret Beller’s last hurrah.

Margaret Beller leaves behind Ann Margaret Loy, of Naples Florida her devoted niece, and Kerry (Mrs John) Euting of Wausau her great niece, both lovingly looking out for Margaret’s best interests for years.

Funeral Mass for Margaret will be held on Saturday, April 23rd at 11:00 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Woodruff, WI with a memorial gathering from 10:00 am till time of service.

Online condolences may be shared at nimsgernfuneral.com

Nimsgern Funeral and Cremation Services in Woodruff is serving the family.