Trust the Torch!

Peggy Menzel, 88

Peggy Menzel, 88, of Hartland, passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the Valley Hi Care Center in Hartland surrounded by her family.

She was born Margaret J. Hallisy on Feb. 26, 1934, to John C. and Helen (Bourey) Hallisy. With an abundance of Margarets in the extended Hallisy family, she soon became known as Peggy, and Peggy it would be for the rest of her life. She married Richard J. “Dick” Menzel on July 4, 1953, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock.

Peggy was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Hartland. Being the wife of a fireman, she was a member of the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Woodstock Rural Fire Department, and would provide the men with food and drink while they were on scene. She worked as bookkeeper for the family-owned Skelly Service Station in Woodstock. 

Upon retiring, Peggy and Dick bought a summer home in Pioneer Park near Wisconsin Dells. They spent many years hosting family gatherings, Fourth of July anniversary cookouts, and summertime fun for the grandkids. Their lifelong friends Joe and Mary Ellen Burg and Jim and Carol Baker also had places at Pioneer Park so they could all enjoy their retirement together: sharing memories and gin and tonics!

Peggy was an avid reader, making frequent trips to the Woodstock Public Library to find a good “whodunnit” or murder mystery to solve. She loved listening to music every morning, enjoyed watching her game shows, and always kept an eye on the weather forecast to make sure family around the country was safe and sound. Weekends were for watching whatever sports event Dick may have on. Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Green Bay Packers, or Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish. She watched them all!

She is survived by her children, Terry (Pat) Menzel of Woodstock and Donna Menzel O’Brien of St. Paul, Minn..; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Joshua) Rowe, Shannon O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien, Mark (April) Menzel, Katie (Scott Dubay) Menzel, and Kelly (Mike) Brinkman; great-grandchildren, Connor, Hunter, Parker, and Tayler Menzel, Landon and Makenzie Rice, Logan, Nolan and Reagan Brinkman, and Natasha O’Brien; cousins, Mary T. Hallisy and Michael Hallisy; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, and a daughter, Diane M. Schreiber, in 2018. 

Visitation will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church, 312 Lincoln Ave., Woodstock, on Thursday, March 10, 2022, from 9 a.m. until the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the church. Interment services will be private in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Woodstock.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the St. Mary Church Guardian Angel Fund, or St. Patrick’s Church Religious Education Fund.

The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Valley Hi and JourneyCare Hospice for all their tender care. 

For information, contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710 or visit slmcfh.com.

Woodstock's most trusted news source. Period.

Keep Exploring

Subscriber Access

Login