Margaret M. Boeckenstedt

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

Margaret Mary “Marge” Boeckenstedt, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Monday, July 27, 2026, in Dyersville, Iowa.

Visitation will be held 3 – 7 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2026, at Kramer-Morris Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa. Visitation will continue from 9 – 10 a.m. at the funeral home prior to funeral services.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Noah Diehm will officiate with Rev. Carl Ries Concelebrating.

Marge was born on November 28, 1944, the only child of Charles and Alma (Koopmann) Boeckenstedt. After graduating from St. Boniface High School in New Vienna, she continued her education by studying nursing at Kirkwood Community College and spent the rest of her professional career in health professions, including long tenures at the Office of Dr. John Banks until her first “retirement” and Clark’s Pharmacy in Cedar Rapids until her second retirement.

Her cousins and many of her friends from her youth knew her as Margie, and she had a unique talent as the quiet life of the party, with the ability to laugh with others and at herself, depending on the situation.

Growing up on a farm, she developed a love of animals, and they were a big part of her life, so much so that she was trusted to pet sit for people in places near and far. Her own animal companions included pugs Pete, Daisy, and Wilhelmina (Willie), and more recently Mister Lilly, the cat who was her close companion.

She also had a great love of travel and visited many countries and several continents on her journeys. Although she came from one of the smallest towns in Iowa, she loved experiencing all the world had to offer, and travel was the only thing she splurged on.

Her Catholic faith was a very strong thread that bound the elements of her life together, and she volunteered at her parish, St. Pius in Cedar Rapids, every week.

She is survived by her aunt, Rose Agnes Boeckenstedt of Dyersville, dozens of cousins from the Boeckenstedt and Koopmann families, and many friends scattered around the globe.

She was predeceased by her mother Alma, father Charles, and many aunts and uncles on both sides of her family.

The twinkle in her eye may be gone, but her legacy will live on with those who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, Marge requested that people make a donation to The Kirkwood College general scholarship fund, or to a local animal care and rescue shelter.

Kramer-Morris Funeral Home (Dyersville, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Monticello, Holy Cross) is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.