1920
Margaret
2017
Margaret Grogg Pifer
August 12, 1920 — September 24, 2017
Margaret Grogg Pifer
On September 24, 2017 the life journey of Margaret Pifer came to an end at age 97. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 12, 1920 to Arthur S. and Leona Lewis Grogg. Her father's work with the Kroger Company took them to different parts of the country, which offered the family a chance to explore and enjoy travel.
Margaret graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1942 with a BA in Sociology. She was a member of Mortar Board. Her extracurricular activities with the University YWCA led to professional positions in the YWCA at Hamilton, Ohio; Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; and New Haven, Connecticut.
Through their shared leadership in the Student YMCA and YWCA, Margaret met Herbert E. Pifer in 1941. Their friendship and love blossomed during a lengthy correspondence courtship during World War II while Herb served in the Army Air Corps in Alaska. They married on January 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio and enjoyed a 60-year marriage of mutual caring and deep affection. Following his graduation from the Yale University Divinity School, Herb took a position with the YMCA at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Later moves took the family to Haslett, Michigan in 1954 and in 1964 to Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Margaret's professional life was devoted to the YWCA and the church. She received great satisfaction from duties as Church Coordinator at the Haslett Community Church, and at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and as Assistant Director at Ministry with Community in Kalamazoo. With her husband she taught Sunday school and worked on social and political causes. She served two terms as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church. Her interests included growing orchids and writing memoirs. Most of all, she took a deep and abiding interest in the world around her, in social justice and in the lives of her children and their families. She always cherished frequent communications with her children and grandchildren. As they each chose their own course in life, she was unfailingly interested and supportive. Her last days were enriched by the presence of her loving family at her bedside. She never lost her grace or sense of humor.
Margaret's brother, Arthur S. Grogg, Jr., predeceased her in 2001, as did her husband in 2005, and her sister-in-law, Mary Anne Grogg in 2011.
Margaret is survived by her four sons and their families: James Wright Pifer and wife, Elizabeth (Mead) and their daughter, Kathleen Pifer Spease (husband Michael and children, Jacob and Alexandra) and son, David Andrew Pifer (wife Christine (Perry) and children Kaleb and Veronica); Richard Lewis Pifer and wife, Marjorie (Hannon) and their daughter, Rebecca Hinze-Pifer (wife Amy Hinze-Pifer and children Margaret and Silas), and son, Christopher (wife Sadie Forsythe and daughter Amalia); David Alan Pifer and wife, Jacqueline Irland and their son Jason Pifer (wife Kelly (Ranzen) and their twin daughters Tess and Riley), and daughter Caralyn Irland; Steven Thomas Pifer and wife, Janice Bedrosian and their son, Michael (wife Knar (Callan)) and daughter, Kate Pifer. She is also survived by a niece and two nephews.
Her passage through life was long and filled with concern for those around her and for those less fortunate. In her own quiet way, she believed in the equality and unity of all people in a world all too often racked by discrimination and war. She was known as Marg, Mom and Grammie, and she will be missed greatly.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 25, 2017 in the auditorium of The Fountains at Bronson Place (1700 Bronson Way). A light reception will follow. Memorial gifts may be sent to Ministry with Community (500 N. Edwards Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007) in memory of Margaret Grogg Pifer.
1700 Bronson Way
Kalamazoo, MI, US, 49009
On September 24, 2017 the life journey of Margaret Pifer came to an end at age 97. She was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 12, 1920 to Arthur S. and Leona Lewis Grogg. Her father's work with the Kroger Company took them to different parts of the country, which offered the family a chance to explore and enjoy travel.
Margaret graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1942 with a BA in Sociology. She was a member of Mortar Board. Her extracurricular activities with the University YWCA led to professional positions in the YWCA at Hamilton, Ohio; Miami University in Oxford, Ohio; and New Haven, Connecticut.
Through their shared leadership in the Student YMCA and YWCA, Margaret met Herbert E. Pifer in 1941. Their friendship and love blossomed during a lengthy correspondence courtship during World War II while Herb served in the Army Air Corps in Alaska. They married on January 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio and enjoyed a 60-year marriage of mutual caring and deep affection. Following his graduation from the Yale University Divinity School, Herb took a position with the YMCA at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Later moves took the family to Haslett, Michigan in 1954 and in 1964 to Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Margaret's professional life was devoted to the YWCA and the church. She received great satisfaction from duties as Church Coordinator at the Haslett Community Church, and at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and as Assistant Director at Ministry with Community in Kalamazoo. With her husband she taught Sunday school and worked on social and political causes. She served two terms as an Elder at First Presbyterian Church. Her interests included growing orchids and writing memoirs. Most of all, she took a deep and abiding interest in the world around her, in social justice and in the lives of her children and their families. She always cherished frequent communications with her children and grandchildren. As they each chose their own course in life, she was unfailingly interested and supportive. Her last days were enriched by the presence of her loving family at her bedside. She never lost her grace or sense of humor.
Margaret's brother, Arthur S. Grogg, Jr., predeceased her in 2001, as did her husband in 2005, and her sister-in-law, Mary Anne Grogg in 2011.
Margaret is survived by her four sons and their families: James Wright Pifer and wife, Elizabeth (Mead) and their daughter, Kathleen Pifer Spease (husband Michael and children, Jacob and Alexandra) and son, David Andrew Pifer (wife Christine (Perry) and children Kaleb and Veronica); Richard Lewis Pifer and wife, Marjorie (Hannon) and their daughter, Rebecca Hinze-Pifer (wife Amy Hinze-Pifer and children Margaret and Silas), and son, Christopher (wife Sadie Forsythe and daughter Amalia); David Alan Pifer and wife, Jacqueline Irland and their son Jason Pifer (wife Kelly (Ranzen) and their twin daughters Tess and Riley), and daughter Caralyn Irland; Steven Thomas Pifer and wife, Janice Bedrosian and their son, Michael (wife Knar (Callan)) and daughter, Kate Pifer. She is also survived by a niece and two nephews.
Her passage through life was long and filled with concern for those around her and for those less fortunate. In her own quiet way, she believed in the equality and unity of all people in a world all too often racked by discrimination and war. She was known as Marg, Mom and Grammie, and she will be missed greatly.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 25, 2017 in the auditorium of The Fountains at Bronson Place (1700 Bronson Way). A light reception will follow. Memorial gifts may be sent to Ministry with Community (500 N. Edwards Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007) in memory of Margaret Grogg Pifer.
Memorial Service
NOV 25. 11:00 AM
The Fountains at Bronson Place1700 Bronson Way
Kalamazoo, MI, US, 49009
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