Marguerite Perkins

Marguerite, known to friends and family as Maggie, was born on May 17, 1940 to August Bergmann and Beatrice Saunders in Prosper, Minnesota.  Most of her young life was spent on the family farm in Bluffton, Iowa. She was an avid horsewoman and left home at fourteen to join a horse show. During her years with them she did a style of riding called Roman Riding standing on the backs of two horses harnessed together. She jumped through rings of fire and did trick riding in rodeos across the United States and Canada. She was truly a cowgirl badass.  Many lifelong friendships came out of that adventure including one with a woman who was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Elaine Kramer.

At  twenty-two Maggie married and moved to Wisconsin where she would raise her three children, Sherri, Dale and Bonnie.

In Wisconsin she worked in a glass factory, formerly known as Foster Forbes from 1968 to 1989 working her way up the ranks to become Packing Room Manager.  During those years she divorced her first husband and continued supporting her children as a single parent.  It was there she met the love of her life, Walt Perkins, who also worked at Forbes. Working on opposite ends of the factory where each end was usually in conflict with the other they had many arguments over whether the glass bottles were good enough to pack. On top of that, Walt, who did not have children at the time, was introduced to fatherhood with a swift kick and hold on tight.  Nonetheless they married two years later and spent the next forty eight years writing their story. Together they traveled the world, opened their home to people in need, made long lasting friendships and had an unbreakable bond that was and is eternal.

They moved to Loma, Colorado in 1992 where they intended to retire and be near Walt’s family.  Maggie is survived by her husband, Walt, daughters, Sherri (Scott Enright), Bonnie, granddaughters Brianne (Tim Nichols), Kayla (Ali Robirts),  many nephews, nieces and informally adopted children.  She was preceded in death by her son, Dale, both parents, Walt’s parents and many other family members whose losses weighed heavily on her.

Maggie was an extraordinary woman with many talents and gifts. Horsewoman, writer, hard-working woman, devoted wife and mother. Most importantly to her was the love she had for her family, being willing to go to the ends of the earth for any one of them.  We miss her and hope she made an impact on your lives.  Celebrate each other and be thankful for each day you wake up and can hold hands with those you love.

No services are planned at this time. Maggie’s family will take her home to Bluffton in the Spring to be buried in the family cemetery.

Life’s Clock

The clock of life is wound but once,

And no man has the power

To tell just where the hands will stop--

At late or early hour.

To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed,

To lose one’s health is more,

To lose one’s soul is such a loss

As no man can restore.
The present only is our own;

Live, love, toil with a will.

Place no faith in tomorrow,

For the clock may then be still.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to HopeWest Hospice.