Margaret (Russ) O’Connell Feb. 5, 1932 – Nov. 29, 2020

      Margaret (Russ) O’Connell, 88, of Delhi, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, surrounded by her family in her home where she resided since 1950. 

      Margaret was a wonderful devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Though saddened by their loss, the family celebrated her life and the gift of a life well lived with a private funeral Mass at St. John’s Catholic Church on Dec. 2, 2020, in Delhi with burial following at St. John’s Cemetery, Delhi.. 

      Margaret is survived by her children, Frank (Carol) O’Connell of Delhi; Sandy (Marv) Kelchen of Monticello, Jan O’Connell of Monticello and daughter-in-law, Lynne O’Connell of Delhi; nine grandchildren, Ann (Chad) Manson, Laura (BJ) Mayer, Dan (Amy) O’Connell, Cindy Motsinger, Nathan (Nicky) Spahr, Brian (Tia) Kelchen, Jessica (Kyle) Vanderploeg, Brad (Jamie) O’Connell and Alex (Sarah) O’Connell; and 13 great-grandchildren, one brother Bill (Marcia) Russ, one sister-in-law, Janice Russ and one brother-in-law, Marvin Marsh.

      She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank O’Connell Sr.; two sons, Kenneth and Bob O’Connell; one daughter, Margaret O’Connell in infancy; and one granddaughter, Amy Spahr in infancy; her parents, John and Margaret (Lahr) Russ; and parents-in-law, Tim and Kathryne (Shields) O’Connell; two brothers, John and Al Russ; one sister, Joan (Russ) Marsh; four sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; one niece; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

      Margaret was born on Feb. 5, 1932, in Seneca, Kan. She moved to the rural Hopkinton/Sands Springs area as a young girl. Margaret graduated from Delhi Consolidated High School in 1949. She married Frank O’Connell Sr. on July 17, 1950. The marriage was blessed with six children. They were owners of O’Connell Grain until Frank’s death in 1982. Margaret then worked for Maquoketa Valley Schools as a cook/custodian for the next 16 years, retiring in 2004.

      Margaret enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing, quilting, cake decorating and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Margaret was a life-long member of St. John’s Catholic Church where for many years she taught religion classes and was an active member of the Guild.

      The family would like to thank Dr. Clinton Cummings for his professional and personal care for our mother. The family also thanks Above & Beyond Hospice for the care provided in Margaret’s final weeks.

      In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.

      Please share a memory of Margaret at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.