Margaret Alice Kallsen

SIOUX CITY - Margaret Alice Kallsen, 77, of Sioux City died of natural causes on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 in her home, surrounded by her children, grandchildren and loved ones.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2008 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Indian Hills, with the Revs. Gary Snyder and Michael Erpelding officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, a 4 p.m. rosary said by Catholic Daughters of America, and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel, 822 Jennings St.

Margaret was born Dec. 11, 1931, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the daughter of Samuel Kellogg Morley and Elizabeth Agnes (McCabe) Morley. She attended Wall Lake Public Schools, where, among other accomplishments, she was proud to share a locker with Andy Williams and to graduate valedictorian of he class of 1950. After high school, she attended a business college in Sioux City, and became a bookkeeper for Cudahy's.

She married her best friend, Robert F. Kallsen on Dec. 29, 1954. Soon after, she became a mother and a homemaker, loving and caring for seven children and sharing her home with more than 30 foster children as well as anyone else in need of a good laugh and a good meal. In addition to this, she managed a convenience store, volunteered at Trinity Heights and worked alongside her husband and children tending the family farm.

Through the years, "Gramma Margaret" also shared her love with 28 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren (with another on the way). She was actively involved with her friends, attending her weekly Bible study group, prayer group and appointment at the beauty salon. She enjoyed good fried chicken, lively conversation and family.

She is survived by her brother, Gerald Morley and wife, Inga; sister, Jeanne Rendall and husband, Brice; her children, Mary Kouris and husband, Drew, Nancy Bower and husband, Larry, Bill Kallsen and wife, Cindy, Jim Kallsen and wife, Kris, Susan Kalin and husband, Don, Rich Kallsen and wife, Mary, Patrick Kallsen and wife, Amy; her close grandson, Aaron Kallsen and many other grandchildren, Jeena Kouris, Heather Hartkopp, Alicia Bower, Krista Prebble, James Bower, Chad Kallsen, Tiffany Young, Katie Kallsen, Alisyn Kallsen, Matt Kallsen, Elizabeth Kallsen, Madelyn Kallsen, Hannah Nehlic-Aroba, Sophie Nehlic-Aroba, Billy Beldt-Kalin, Molly Kalin, Maggie Kalin, Bethany Kalin, Audrey Kalin, Annie Kallsen, Emily Kallsen, Laura Kallsen, Sammy Kallsen, Tyler Kallsen, Amber Kallsen, Alexys Kallsen, Jeremy Hannel, Sean Hannel, Sarah Hannel and Zach Hannel; and her 11 great-grandchildren, Cole Hartkopp, Morgan Hartkopp, Aubrie Bower-Prebble, Roy Prebble, Madison Walding-Bower, Lucas Bower,

Caleb Bower, Chase Kallsen, Rylie Kallsen, Bradley Young and Shelbie Young. She is also survived by close family members, Rose Danner, Sissy Hannel and husband, Joe, as well as many other nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Kallsen; her mother, Elizabeth Morley; her father, Samuel Morley; two brothers, Morris Morley and Joseph Morley; and a granddaughter, Ashlee Kallsen.

Pallbearers will be Chad Kallsen, James Bower, Matt Kallsen, Joe Morley, Keith Havener and Joe Hannel.