Margaret Ann "Peggy" Leach's Obituary
On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, Margaret Ann “Peggy” Leach passed away after struggling for many years with Alzheimer’s dementia. She will be so missed by her family and friends, but now knows the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Peggy was born on August 22, 1940, to James Earl and Mary Olive (Coppock) Fulwider in Columbus, Ohio, and in second grade met a little boy, Frank Leach, who would become her husband on July 28, 1962. Together, they raised a family, lived in seven wonderful cities in ten different homes, and shared many years of love and fun.
After graduating from Columbus North High School and the Ohio State University with her B.A. in Education, Peggy was a preschool and kindergarten teacher. She loved children and was always a kind and caring teacher, even after she stopped teaching professionally. Her strongest impulse was to be a caretaker – for her brothers and sister, her husband and children, her grandsons, her friends, and her community.
Peggy was a consummate homemaker, building three beautiful modern houses with her husband and turning them into stylish, comfortable, and impeccable homes for her family. She loved to cook and entertain and was never happier than when she had her family and friends around a table filled with delicious food. The family cottage, “Camp Rainbow,” on the French River in Ontario was her most enduring home, visiting each summer from the time she was sixteen until the end of her life. Time at the cottage was filled with relaxation and family fun – books, puzzles, baking, fishing, boating, sunbathing, and many late-night card games.
Always thinking of others and willing to give of herself, Peggy was a dedicated and active civic volunteer throughout her life. An art lover, she was particularly pleased with her work at the Muskegon Art Museum and the Tri-Cities Historical Museum. She was honored for her work at Grand Haven’s very first “Night of 100 Stars.” Peggy was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international philanthropic organization created to provide women with opportunities for advanced education. Her volunteer work extended to her church, First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven, where she was a deacon, a wedding coordinator, and frequent cookie baker.
Perhaps Peggy’s favorite role of all was that of mom and grandma. She loved and was very proud of her children and all of their personal, academic, and professional accomplishments (none of which would have been possible without her support!) She adored taking care of her two grandsons when they were little and going to every game, meet, concert, play, and showcase as they moved through high school and into college.
Peggy is loved and missed by her children, Susan (Bob) Negen of Spring Lake, MI and Rick (Dawn) Leach of Grand Haven, MI, her grandsons, Joe Negen and Sam Negen, her siblings, Tom Fulwider, Bill Fulwider, Bob Fulwider, and Beth Fulwider, and her sister-in-law, Linda Paris. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Leach.
There will be a memorial service to celebrate Peggy’s life on July 10, 2021, at First Presbyterian Church in Grand Haven, MI at 11:00 am. Luncheon and fellowship with the family to follow at a location to be determined based on COVID restrictions at that time.
Donations in Peggy’s memory may be made to the P.E.O. Chapter DS Scholarship Fund at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation at One South Harbor Drive, Grand Haven, MI 49417, or to the First Presbyterian Church at 508 Franklin Avenue, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
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