Margaretta Long Obituary (1926 - 2023)

Margaretta "Peggy" Long, peacefully passed from this world on August 28, 2023. Born on June 3, 1926, in Darby, Pennsylvania, Peggy lived a life filled with adventure and love. She home for herself, and her family, in many places, including Delaware and Galesburg, Illinois, before finally settling in Indianola, Iowa. Peggy served as a secretary during World War II, a period of her life that filled her with great pride. After the war, she found her calling in the world of numbers, working as an accountant until her retirement. In 1950, she married the love of her life, John "Jack" Long, and they built a beautiful family together. She was a member of the P.E.O, an organization dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for women. As her family and friends can attest, Margaretta was a loving woman who placed the utmost value on her husband and family. Margaretta is survived by her loving daughters, Ann (Larry) Long-Richards and Mary (Bob) Oberg, and her grandchildren Jessica (Sam) Hart, Sean (Emily) Callison, Casey Richards, and Katlin Stewart. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren Astrid Hart, Dakota Dalton, and Lilly Stewart. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Long, her parents, Michael Mattia and Mary Bagley, and her sister, Mary Pearson. As we remember and celebrate her life, we encourage all who knew and loved her to share their memories and photos on the memorial page. Let us remember Margaretta not with sorrow, but with the joy and warmth she brought into our lives. As we contemplate her life, let us remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Margaretta Long indeed succeeded in every sense of the word.