Margaret “Margie” Anne Walsh Warren was born December 28, 1950, in Centerville, Iowa to Howard and Wanda (Dorsett) Walsh, and passed away on Tuesday, September 19th at her home.
Margie attended grade school in Brownlee, and graduated from High School in Thedford, Nebraska in 1969.
On Valentine’s Day, 1969, Margie married Bill Warren, her high school sweetheart. Following graduation, Margie joined Bill in Karlsruhe, Germany, where he was serving in the US Army. Margie worked in the American Express Bank and worked nights helping Bill at the military movie theater, where he was the cashier and projectionist. After watching the movies, they cleaned the theater.
When Bill could get a free weekend, they drove their 1960 Opal, and traveled. Bill bought a 5 x 7 tent at the PX, and they camped out on most of their adventures through Europe. The military allotted the soldiers only so many Esso gas coupons a month.
Following life in Germany, they moved to Kearney where they both enrolled at Kearney State College. Bill had a part-time tree cutting and grass mowing business and Margie worked at the Platte Valley State Bank and Good Samaritan Hospital, while also taking college courses. In December 1973 after Bill’s graduation, they moved to the Warren Ranch, south of Seneca. Margie worked for the Hooker County Attorney, and the Thedford Sale Barn.
Tony and Christie were born November 9, 1976, and 1978. Margie loved being a Mom and always said whatever age her kids were, it was her favorite age.
Shortly after Tony’s birth, Margie joined her Mom, Wanda, selling advertising specialties for Newton Mfg Co. She continued this for the next 15 years.
Margie was a First Responder, then an EMT. Bill teased her and said if there ever was an emergency, she would be gone to training. That came to pass one time while she was at a monthly EMT meeting. Tony stuck a pitchfork through his foot while burning feed sacks.
On June 28, 1989, Margie lost the love of her life. Bill passed away after a 7-month battle with esophageal cancer, at the age of 38. It was extremely difficult for Margie without him. He had been her rock since they were 17 years old. A few months later, needing to leave the ranch, Margie and the kids moved to Stapleton. This was a very dark and empty time in her life. She felt abandoned and let down by many. Margie continued to sell advertising specialties for 2 more years, and also worked as a Census Crew Leader, during the 1990 and 2000 Census.
Two years after Bill’s death, Margie and the kids were living near Ansley, Nebraska. Margie volunteered as an EMT and worked part time for both medical clinics in Broken Bow, and at the satellite clinic in Dunning. Soon, she worked full time at Central Nebraska Medical Clinic, in Ansley and Broken Bow. During this time, Margie also worked as a caregiver for elderly or disabled people.
Margie moved northwest of Kearney in March 2004, and worked for the Spine and Orthopedic Clinic. In August 2004, she became a Grandma for the first time, and her world became a more beautiful place. In December 2007, she welcomed her 6th grandchild in North Carolina. The day after returning home, her stepfather passed away and three weeks later, Margie’s Mom had a heart attack. She became a full-time caretaker for her Mom, and moved into town. They enjoyed several years traveling in Margie’s motor home before her Mom’s death in 2012.
After her Mom passed away, Margie volunteered at the Archway, and for AseraCare Hospice. She moved back to the country, southwest of Kearney. She was busy again, continuing to care for people in their homes, volunteering for hospice and attending the grandkids school events.
In 2015, Margie was diagnosed with melanoma, and in November 2019, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in January 2020, and again in February for melanoma.
By the end of February 2020, Covid-19 hit the country, and changed everyone’s life.
In October 2022, Margie’s cancer returned, and there was nothing that could be done. She decided to live her best life, as long as she could. She and Christie made a trip to Floyd, Virginia, where Tony and his family now live.
Throughout her life, Margie was involved in many community projects and activities. She served on the Thomas County Library Board and the Election Board in Seneca for many years. She was a member of the Seneca Extension Club, served on the EMS Council in North Platte, was a member of the Nebraska Cattlewomen, served as President and Sec/Treas for the Ansley EMT squad, was a member of the Ansley Crisis Team, the American Legion Auxiliary in Thedford and Ansley, Sec/Treas of the Ansley FFAMW, a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ansley, and a CCD religious education instructor in Ansley and Mason City. She was instrumental in the pilot program with Bryan Memorial Hospital, assisting the rural Nebraska EMT squads in purchasing defibrillators for their ambulances.
Grandma Margie was never too busy to lend a hand or do something fun with the Grandkids. She always made a list of things to do, and they loved that. Grandma and Kyler could be pretty mischievous, if left together, and a lot of work always got done when the Grandkids were visiting Grandma.
There were several memorable things Margie told her kids as they were growing up. When they wanted to stay out later than was allowed, she would say, “Nothing good happens after midnight,” and when they wanted to do something she didn’t think was wise, she would say, “I am your common sense until you have some.” Whenever a project needed done, she always said, “Let’s just think about this.” Needless to say, over the years, the kids could anticipate those words, and say them before she did. Early in her life, Margie adopted the expression, “Never Let Em See You Sweat.” Don’t wear your feelings on your sleeve. If something needed done, just do it, and don’t show you don’t necessarily know how, or that it bothered you. Her kids and Grandkids knew that expression well.
Survivors include her two children: Tony (Jennifer) Warren of Floyd, Virginia, and Christie (Riley) Jones of Sumner, Nebraska, as well as her eight grandchildren: Georgana (Alex) Oden, Chyna Scharpe, Nicholas & Matthew Warren, Reece, Maddox, Kyler and Cruz Jones, as well as her great grandson Jace Alexander Oden, brothers: Randy Walsh of Kearney, and David (Becky) Walsh of North Platte, sister: Beverly Walsh Bolton of Webb City, Missouri, and stepsister Ann (Trussell) Palmer of Syracuse, KS, as well as many Warren brothers & sisters in law, and many nieces and nephews. Margie was preceded in death by her husband Bill Warren in 1989, her father Howard Walsh in 1995, mother Wanda Trussell in 2012, step father Van Trussell, sisters in law, Diane Walsh and Mary Warren Roy, brother in law Marcus Bolton, and nephew BJ Warren.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 24th at Govier Brother’s Mortuary in Broken Bow with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 11:00 CT in Seneca, Nebraska at the Seneca Auditorium. Burial will be at the Seneca Cemetery in Seneca where Margie will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband Bill, and near her parents, Howard and Wanda following the service. Memorials may be sent to the Seneca Cemetery, Seneca Auditorium or AseraCare Hospice in Kearney. A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 24th at Govier Brother’s Mortuary in Broken Bow from 1:00 to 7:00 pm with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.coms.