Margaret Cantwell

Mary Margaret Cantwell of Mesa, Arizona, a former long time resident of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, passed away on August 6, 2006, in Mesa, Arizona with family members at her bedside. She was 91 years of age. Mary Margaret was born January 22,1915, at Hamilton, Illinois. She was the second of three daughters born to Bertha Margaret Consbrock and Thomas Gaule. She spent her youth in Fort Madison, Iowa. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Catholic Central High School on June 6,1933. She later attended Carthage College, in Carthage, Illinois. On November 7,1938, she married Thomas Morgan Newton. They made their home in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Two children were born of this union, Sharon Catherine, and Thomas Michael Newton. She was employed at The Iowa Ordnance Plant during WWll, later at Central States Insurance Company of Mt. Pleasant and retired from Iowa Wesleyan College, office of the Registrar. On November 8,1949 she was married to Clifford C. Pinky Cantwell at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He preceded her in death in 1987. Mary Margaret is survived by her daughter, Sharon C.(Gary) Sullivan of Chandler, Arizona, her son, Thomas M. (Jo) Newton of Tempe, Arizona and step daughter, Carol Isaacson of Allen, Texas; four grandchildren, David Bradley (Betsy) Sullivan, Chandler, Arizona, Todd William (Michelle) Newton, Eugene, Oregon, Anthony Thomas (Carolyn) Newton of Snoqualmie, Washington, Deborah Anne (Michael) Tomah of Gilbert, Arizona and two step-grandchildren, Diana Isaacson, Allen, Texas and Michael Isaacson, of Garland, Texas. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Patrick and Andrew Sullivan, Connor, Riley, and Sydney Newton and Molly, Stephen, Matthew and Katie Tomah. Eight nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sisters, Vera Holterhaus and Kathleen Shepherd. Margaret was a long time member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, Altar and Rosary Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, American Legion Auxiliary, West Side Mothers Club, Henry County Geneological Society, Chicaquaqua Rock Hounds, Mt. Pleasant Woman's Club and Huldah Saunders Questers Club. Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel, 709 Mapleleaf Drive, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, 52641. will be handling the local arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, August, 13, 2006, beginning at 12 noon. Family visitation from 4 to 6 PM, followed by the rosary at 6:00 p.m. A funeral mass, in celebration of her life, will be held Monday, August 14,2006 at 10:30 a.m. at St Alphonsus Catholic Church, 607 S. Jackson Street, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Interment will be in Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant,Iowa. Memorials have been established in her name at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, the Henry County Avenue of Flags Veteran's Memorial or to a charity of personal choice.