Margaret Joan "Peggy" Mott

Margaret (Peggy) J. Mott, age 87, of Oshkosh and Madison, WI passed away in the loving environment of her family and Evergreen Retirement Community of Oshkosh, WI on Saturday, November 23, 2024. She was born in Beloit, WI on March 25, 1937, to the late Bob and Charlotte (Bean) Oberbruner. 

Peggy’s focus in life was on her husband, children, and grandchildren while living her dream of a nursing career. She graduated from Beloit High School in 1955 before pursuing her nursing education over 23 years in Madison WI. She began her formal education at St. Mary’s Nursing School, received her RN at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1964, and her BSN degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978. 

During her early years in Madison, she met her beloved and mischievous husband, Gary Mott, whom she married on February 15, 1958. For 66 years, Peggy and Gary created fun and laughter in daily events for their family and many friends. They welcomed and cherished four children into their lives, the late Mike Mott, Dan Mott, Amy (Mott) Cunningham, and Andy Mott. Included as beloved family members were her dogs, Rex, Lance, Kaya, and Zach. Every year the family planned for their summer camping trip to various parts of the United States. Peggy was a planner, an organizer, listening to others and counseling others as her sisters would call her “Doctor Mott”. She loved gardening, photography, reading, and traveling worldwide with Gary. For many years during retirement, they would spend several weeks in Hawaii. 

While nurturing her family, Peggy finished her nursing education and worked as a Staff Nurse at Methodist Hospital. She settled into a long-term position at the UW-Madison Student Health Services as a Nurse Clinician (earning the first certification in Wis) and Health Information Materials Coordinator until her retirement in 2000. Her love of caring for others made her a favorite amongst the students not only because of the time and concern she gave but as she kept a “pantry” of hats, gloves, scarves, tea, ramen noodles, etc for those who were in need. She was nominated to Who’s Who in American Nursing of 1986-87 for her publication “Health Information Needs and Utilization of Resources in College Students”. She wrote many other health education materials as well as co-producing a video about the Student Health Services. She was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Wis Chapter, a nursing honor society, serving on the Professional Nurses Scholarship Committee and the UW-Madison School of Nursing Scholarship Committee. Other associations were serving on the board of the Madison District Nurses Asso, and the Patient Health Education Committee for UW-Madison. 

Peggy is survived by her husband, Gary; children Dan (Jacque) Mott, Amy (John) Cunningham, and Andrew (Heather) Mott and daughter-in-law Cassie Mott; grandchildren, Valerie (Brandon) Teters and Jessica (Mott) Bias; Megan, Jack, Brynn, and Ellie Cunningham; Hannah, Brendan, and Lily Mott; great-grandchildren Eli, Rylee, and Ethan Teters; Leone Bias; brother Rob Oberbruner; sisters Susan Goodson and Betty (Sam) Adams; Sister-in-law Sue FitzGibbon. She is further survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

In addition to her parents, Peggy is preceded in death by her son, Michael, her in-laws Gordon and Agnes Mott, and her brother-in-law, Jim FitzGibbon. 

Visitation will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 401 S. Owen St in Madison on Saturday, December 21st at 10:00 AM. The funeral mass will occur at 11:00, followed by her burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery at 12:30 PM. 

In honor of Peggy’s memory, her family kindly asks that any memorials be directed to the Nursing Student Success and Support Fund. Memorials can be made online at https://secure.supportuw.org/give Fund No. 112640050 ). Or, please send a donation check made payable to UW Foundation and mail to: U.S. Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI, 53278. Please note fund # 112640050 and in memory of Margaret “Peggy” Mott on your donation.

Peggy’s family would like to thank the staff of Creekview Household #1 and ShareHaven of the Evergreen Retirement Community, and Generations Hospice Care for the loving and compassionate care they gave to her during her stay with each of them. 

We welcome you to share your thoughts and memories in the online guest book below.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434