Margaret Pepple, 97, passed away on December 19, 2025, at home with her children at her side in Palo Alto, California.
Margaret was born in Odin, Illinois, the eldest of two children, to Elester “Leck” Harville and Martha (VanSant) Harville. She attended Odin School from 1st grade through high school, where she graduated twice! She graduated from 11th grade, then the school district added 12th grade, so she went one more year and graduated again. Margaret went on to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where she met her future husband, Wayne, whom she married on March 27, 1949. Wayne passed away on April 30, 2025.
Margaret and Wayne farmed for a short time in Illinois before moving across the country a couple of times due to Wayne’s military service. They moved back to Illinois briefly and finally settled down in Palo Alto, CA. They never lost their ties to Illinois, though. In retirement, they enjoyed splitting their time between their house in Palo Alto and Margaret’s beloved childhood home in Odin.
Margaret was always busy her whole life. She spent a summer working in a dress factory in a nearby town as a teenager, where she honed her sewing skills. While Wayne was serving in the Marines, she worked in retail in San Diego and North Carolina. She drove a van transporting students home from Castilleja girls’ school in Palo Alto, volunteered at a local food pantry, worked in a daycare center, and was a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a highly skilled seamstress, sewing everything from her wedding dress to placemats for every holiday or season, pillows, decorative items, and dresses for herself and her daughters. Her family and friends greatly appreciated her culinary skills. She also had a musical talent that she passed down to her children. Besides playing the piano, she was a member of a handbell choir well into her 90s.
Travel was something that was ingrained in her DNA. Her parents always said her middle name should have been Go because if anyone mentioned going somewhere, Margaret would beat them to the car, ready to go, too. She was always ready to head out on an adventure or just a trip to a local park. As soon as she got home, she was plotting her next outing. She enjoyed many travels throughout her life, visiting all 50 states, many more than once. She also visited many countries, including England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Australia. If you wanted her to stay in one place, you would have had to tie her down somehow.
Margaret was devoted to her church, where she was a long-time member. She served in many capacities, such as secretary, held leadership roles in membership, and organized activities for the members of the church. She was an elder for many years, visiting those who were sick and couldn’t attend church, taking them communion, serving at the communion table, and performing numerous other duties. Margaret spent countless hours volunteering for anything and everything that needed to be done. She didn’t see her work at the church as a duty, but as a privilege.
Margaret is predeceased by her husband of 76 years, Wayne, her parents, her brother, Leonard Harville, her many aunts and uncles, and numerous friends. She is dearly missed by her children, Merriam (Bob) Hanley, Tehachapi, CA; Monica Pepple, Bloomington, IL; and Loren Pepple, Odin, IL, as well as numerous other family and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 11 am, January 3rd, 2026, at Odin Christian Church with burial to follow at the Peaceful Valley Cemetery in Odin, Illinois. Friends and relatives are welcome to a visitation time with Margaret’s family from 10 am until the time of the service on Saturday at the church in Odin. In lieu of flowers and to honor Margaret’s memory, the family suggests donations to a church or charity of your choice. Online condolences and memories of Margaret may be shared with the family by visiting maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page. Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Odin is privileged to be assisting the family with services.
