Margaret Kochuyt

Margaret Kochuyt, 89, of Victor, passed away Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Victor. A visitation will be held from 1 until 8 p.m., with the family present from 4 to 8 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 15, at Smith Funeral Home in Victor. There will be a Scripture service at 7:30 p.m.

Margaret was born Nov. 20, 1923, to Joseph and Julia Martha VanDenBussche Depoorter in Moline, Ill. She attended Sacred Heart School in Moline. After her education, she assisted her dad on the milk route, helped care for her Aunt Marcella and worked at a theater. Later she worked at a licorice factory in Moline for many years.

Margaret married Albert Kochuyt on Aug. 29, 1946, in East Moline, Ill.; the couple moved to rural Ladora, where he worked on the Geis farm. Then in 1960, they purchased their own farm in rural Ladora. The couple moved to Victor in 1976 after their retirement.

Margaret and Albert enjoyed attending dances, playing cards, and going to casinos; she continued to do these activities after Albert’s death in 1996.

Margaret kept busy by traveling to bingo events with friends. She was always the driver to these activities and inherited the name designated bingo driver.

Margaret was a gentle and kindhearted lady and cherished spending time with her family.

She will be greatly missed.

Margaret is survived by her children, Donna (Lonnie) Jack of Victor, Kathy Roth of Brooklyn, Robert (Melinda) Kochuyt of Ladora and Dan (Rhonda) Kochuyt of Center Point; daughter-in-law, Jeanne Kochuyt (Larry) of Ladora; sisters, Julia DeBlaey of Rapid City, Ill., and Theresa (Doug) Wilson of Durant; brothers, Joseph Depoorter of East Moline, Ill., and Bob (Nancy) Depoorter of Moline, Ill.; 20 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Albert; son, Larry, and infant son, Johnny; granddaughter, Patti Kochuyt, and great-grandson, Jake Kochuyt; her parents; sisters, Ann Wegener, Dorothy Saelens, Rose Glaudel, Betty Shumaker, Toni Smith, Marie Ratto and Clara Roach; and brothers, George and Lawrence Depoorter.

Published Feb. 14, 2013 in The Gazette