Obit: Leick, Margaret Ann (1934 - 2023)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Leick, Hodny, Sazama, Baker, Gourdon, Brodzinski, Kovatch, Vethanayagam

----Source: Rembs Funeral Home (Marshfield, Wood Co., WI) 1/10/2023

Leick, Margaret Ann (1 June 1934 – 6 January 2023)

Margaret Ann Leick, 88, Stratford, passed away peacefully with family at her side on Friday, January 6, 2023, at Stoney River Memory Care.

Margaret was born on June 1, 1934, in Colby, Wisconsin to Joseph and Mary “Mayme” (Hodny) Sazama and was a 1952 graduate of Colby High School. She then attended St. Joseph’s School of Nursing.

She was united in marriage to Richard A. Leick on October 17, 1953, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Colby. They raised nine children together on their farm south of Stratford and enjoyed over 60 years of card club parties with their friends. Richard passed away on April 25, 2016.

Margaret made keeping a household look effortless, cooking large meals for the family, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, canning and freezing. Caregiving came naturally to her. No matter how hard she worked during the day, she never complained and found time to share special moments with her children.

She enjoyed bowling and traveling and created many family heirlooms through her sewing, embroidery, and quilting. Her mother taught her to make braided rugs, a skill she passed on. She loved spending time with her grandchildren playing Enchanted Forest, Sequence, Rummy Royal, mailman, and creating scavenger hunts just for them. Even in her later years, she lit up when she saw babies.

She had unwavering faith, was a devoted servant of God and parishioner of St Joseph’s parish. She spent many a Sunday rising at 3 a.m. to make donuts for St. Joseph’s, made beautiful doll clothes for the church bazaar, helped cook numerous funeral meals, was a lector for daily mass, a Eucharistic minister, coordinator of rosary leaders, a member of PCCW, and a volunteer for Birthright.

Margaret will be remembered for her dry sense of humor, her storytelling, and her gentle way of sharing her knowledge and wisdom through her actions. She will leave a legacy of love and service to all.

She is survived by her children, Susan (Stanley) Baker of Dedham, MA, Jerry (Michele) Leick of Oostburg, Peter (Ellen) Leick of Rhinelander, Don (Terri) Leick of Maple Grove, MN, Bill (Marti) Leick of Chandler, AZ, Brian (Darla) Leick of Stratford, Jim (Kay) Leick of Stratford, Donna Leick and her husband Laurent Gourdon, Madrid, Spain, and Pat (Dani) Leick of Cottage Grove, MN.

She is also survived by 21 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She is further survived by siblings, Mary Brodzinski of Athens, Bill Sazama of River Falls, Dorothy Kovatch of Frederick, MD, and Dan (Cathy) Sazama of Stratford.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, grandson Christopher Leick, and brothers, Joe, Tony, and David Sazama.

A memorial in Margaret’s name may be given to The Hannah Center of Marshfield, WI or the Arthritis Foundation.

The family is indebted to Jim and Kay for the loving care they provided during the time Mom lived with them. The family also wishes to thank the in-home caregivers, the staff at Stoney River Memory Care, and Heartland Hospice team headed by Taiya for their dedicated and loving support.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 13, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stratford, with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam officiating. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County and grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. The visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 12 at Sauter/Rembs Funeral Home, Stratford and from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Friday, January 13 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. St. Joseph’s Parish Council of Catholic Women will recite the rosary at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.