Heaven has a sweeter sound as Marjorie Ann Sawyers received a perfect pitch call to join her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Marge was 3 days shy of her 90th birthday. Her late husband Robert M. (Bob) Sawyers and partner in song for 68 years was there to welcome her; she had found her compass. Marge (nee Fedcke) was born in Mount Pleasant, MI to the Rev. Otto C. and Esther Schnell Fedcke. She graduated from Saginaw (MI) High School, Class of 1945 and attended the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor. Marge and Bob were married on May 31, 1947 in Saginaw where they raised four children.
Marge was born into music. She was a church organist at age 12, studied piano and organ at U of M, and was director of church music, organist and accompanist for the choir and grade school at Bethlehem Lutheran in Saginaw. Marge taught private piano and organ lessons throughout the community; the legend of 5 pianos in one home is true! She accompanied Bob’s beautiful voice for decades of weddings and church/civic functions. She was the inspiration for the girl’s Treble Choir at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Appleton, WI.
Marge enjoyed a 10-year career at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton, (1973-83) as a medical transcriber, and was the organist for weekly mass in the chapel. She and Bob rehabbed a home on Lake Poygan which became a weekend haven for family and friends, especially 4th of July parties and winter Olympics. After a brief stay in Valparaiso, IN, Marge and Bob retired in Appleton, but not from music. Marge remained active at Faith Lutheran and joined Bob on the road with “Memories,” a spoof on aging sung to popular tunes. Marge was a member of PEO CC Chapter, an avid reader, and book club member. During her final days at Heartwood Homes Marge played piano music from memory and brightened the lives of everyone around her.
To Mom & Grandma, our favorite memories include: Cross Street; the woods; State Park camping; pen pals; ferries and the Mackinac Bridge; Alexanders at the Soo; Chief White Cloud; popcorn in a grocery bag; softball, fireworks, and ice skating at Hoyt Park; Coca Cola and picnic suppers on the river; chasing bats at Camp-In-The-Woods; door-to-door blueberry sales; the Merryettes; pressure cookers; pin curls; babushkas; Brown Co. State Park green hair; fondue & pink Chablis; Euchre & 500; accomplice in the Christmas underwear exchange; family portrait escapades; camping in the living room; bingo and cash prizes; Gram’s infamous cousins speaker forums; Sunrise Lodge; Camp Mishike; fish fries & potato salad; cobbler aprons; Yogi Bear; “we women have to serve our men”; and baby grand pianos. Put them all together, they spell LOVE.
Family members who will love and miss Marge include her four children: Bob (Ruth) Sawyers, Saginaw, MI; Thomas Sawyers, Neenah, WI; Marna (Larry) Olenchek, Waukesha, WI; Julie (Mike) Schoenbohm, Appleton, WI. Eight grandchildren: Mike (Jane) Sawyers, Providence, RI; Shelly (Steve) Hudson, Livonia, MI; Abby (Nick) Jermstad, Wauwatosa, WI; Jorie Olenchek, Madison, WI; Steve Olenchek, Platteville, WI; Whitney (Brandan) Backman, Neenah, WI; Courtney (Steve) Pickett, Columbus, OH; and Nick (Devon) Schoenbohm, Appleton, WI. Four great grandchildren: Gus and Lucy Jermstad; Owen Sawyers; and Mya Backman. Brother-in-law Harold (Theresa) Sawyers, Saginaw, MI; and nephew Benn Scherzer, Melbourne, FL.
Marge was predeceased by her beloved husband Robert, her parents, sisters Virginia Scherzer and Doris Maves, and grandson Matthew Sawyers.
Special thanks to Heartwood Homes Senior Living and AsceraCare Hospice.
Visitation and funeral service will be held on Monday, October 23, 2017 at Faith Lutheran Church, 601 E. Glendale Avenue, Appleton, WI. The family will greet friends from 9:00a.m. until 10:45a.m., with the service at 11:00a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church Music Endowment Fund or Ascera Care Hospice.
“…I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.” JS Bach
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