Margaret Roth

Roth, Margaret Irene "Peg"

MADISON - Age 88, of Madison, WI and formerly of Wausau, WI, and Fort Myers, FL, died peacefully at Attic Angel in Madison of natural causes on January 26, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Doris Brobst; her brother Richard "Dick" Brobst; and, on November 16, 2013, her devoted husband Bob to whom she was married for 64 years. She is survived by three children, Mary Roth Burns of Rhinelander, WI, Bill (Valla) Roth of Minneapolis, MN and Patty Roth of Madison, WI; four grandchildren, Sarah (Mike) Wu of Buffalo Grove, IL, Holly (Mustajab) Burns of New York, NY, Brian (Joanna) Roth of Minneapolis, MN, and Nicole Roth of Cedar Rapids, IA; two great-grandchildren, Charlie and Danny Wu; her brother William (Dorothy) Brobst of Mechanicsville, VA; and sister Polly Scott of Wauwatosa, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

Peg was born in Eau Claire, WI, on August 14, 1925. She spent most of her childhood in Mondovi, WI, and graduated from Osseo High School at the age of 16. During World War II, she worked first as a secretary in a Milwaukee law firm before working at the Baraboo Munitions Factory, saving her money for college. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was a member of the Theta Phi Alpha sorority. Graduating in 1948 with majors in Political Science and French, Peg daringly moved to New York City where she was hired by the United Nations. Peg married Robert "Bob" Roth on November 26, 1949; they had their first child in New York and their second child in Michigan, before settling in Wausau where their third child was born.

Peg was a loyal wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend who will be remembered as kind, caring and agreeable, except when she was feisty - and then she was still respectful. In 1960, she wrote Well Mary, a book compiled from Civil War love letters written by her great-grandfather to her great-grandmother. Peg was thrilled when Wisconsin Public Radio chose her book to be read on "Chapter a Day." She was also an avid and successful golfer, achieving six holes-in-one in her career. Her family will never forget her joy when she got her first career hole-in-one on August 18, 1981, at the Wausau Country Club. Peg also loved playing tennis, and especially liked socializing with her bridge club and potluck group. Although Peg was a highly intelligent, intensely private person who read extensively, she sincerely enjoyed lunches and dinners out with her friends. Her family fondly remembers her excellent cooking for family dinners, especially her cherry pie and brownies. Peg's favorite foods were vanilla ice cream, popcorn, and nuts.

Bob and Peg traveled to Europe often, where Peg fell in love with Paris and all things French. For almost 20 years, they were "snow birds," making many friends in Fort Myers, FL. In 2000, they moved from Wausau to live full-time in Fort Myers, where they continued to play tennis and golf, and often hosted visitors from Wisconsin, taking them for walks along the lovely, sunny beaches.

Visitation in Madison will be at Attic Angel, 8301 Old Sauk Rd, in Middleton on Saturday, February 1st, 2014 from 11:00am to 12:00 noon. Mass of Christian Burial will be at the Church of the Resurrection, 621 2nd Street, Wausau, WI, at 11:00am on Saturday, February 15, 2013 with visitation one hour prior to service.

Memorials may be made to Wisconsin Public Radio at 821 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706; the University of Wisconsin Foundation at 1848 University Ave., Madison, WI, 53726; or the Church of the Resurrection.