Obituary: Margarita "Peg" Olson Ash

MADISON - Margarita " Peg" Olson Ash, age 95, died on Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at Meriter Hospital from pneumonia and lung complications. She was born in a house on Blair Street on Oct. 26, 1908, the daughter of Oscar C. and Anna M. Olson. Peg grew up in the Gorham Street neighborhood. She attended Lincoln School, Madison Central High School and the UW-Madison where she received her bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1927. Peg was a member of Delta Zeta sorority. She pursued a career in department store sales and management in the Madison, Detroit and Chicago areas. Peg married Philip Louis Ash on May 3, 1931, and together they had two children. During Peg's retail merchandising career she worked with Mandel Brothers, Boston Store, McNiel and Moore, Silverstones, she taught in Milwaukee and later became a successful real estate agent. Peg was a life member of Bethel Lutheran Church. She worked in a variety of community activities in Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Detroit and Madison. Peg taught decoupage in Shorewood and Madison; she was also a docent for the governor's home in Madison. She is survived by her two children, Philip L. (Ann) Ash Jr., retired U.S. Army colonel, of San Diego, Calif., and Karen (Verne) Bartelt of Janesville; and four grandchildren, Michael P. and Catherine E. Ash of Madison, Beth (Don) Bartelt Oswald of Janesville, and Charles (Di) Bartelt of the Milwaukee area. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 11, 2004, at the Good Shepherd Chapel of BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison. Graveside services will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Forest Hill Cemetery, 1 Speedway Road. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Bethel Lutheran Church. Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on June 10, 2004