Margaret Isabella Munn DeKing, 102, of Montgomery, Illinois passed away, Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at her home.
Margaret was born on Beautiful Street in Tama, Iowa, on April 27, 1921, to William Shepherd and Margaret Isabella (McNichol) Munn. She came to Aurora with her family in 1924 when her father, a glass blower by trade, found work with the Burlington Railroad. Margaret attended Beaupre Elementary School where academic accomplishments allowed her to advance a full year ahead of schedule, passing her peers. She went to Center School for sixth and seventh grade, and on to Junior High for eighth. In 1938 Margaret graduated from East Aurora High School. It was while she was there that she acquired the moniker "Muggsie" which many people still call her today. She was a devout member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aurora for many years. When she moved to Montgomery 14 years ago, to live with her youngest daughter, she became a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Oswego.
Margaret's first job was in 1935 as a car hop for Silver Fross Rootbeer Stand. In 1940 she met Gerald Joseph "Jerry" DeKing at Skateland, the neighborhood roller skating rink. Jerry joined the U.S. Marine Corps at the break of WWII and was sent to the Pacific Theater. Margaret left her job as manager of the doughnut counter at Kresges to manage the cigar counter at Whelan Drugs and did her best to support the war effort in rationing goods to customers. There she was known for her constant cheer, beautiful smile, her "whistle while you work" demeanor and as "The brown-eyed girl at Whelan's waiting for the boy from the islands she was so sweet and always neat the brown-eyed girl at Whelan's" (a poem written in a bridal shower card and gift from the owner of Stewart Clothing Store). Margaret and Jerry were married on October 7, 1944, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Aurora, while he was still in the service. After the war ended, Margaret left Whelan's for a position as Office Manager for Coca-Cola and began the next phase of her life. She worked at the Customer Service Counter at Big K grocery store after Jerry's death in 1975, and later at Halterman and Lifetouch Photography as a Photographer's Assistant.
Always happy and joyful in her faith, Margaret was a mother to neighborhood kids, Boy Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader, and very active in PTA at all levels. She was awarded Lifetime PTA Membership, in recognition of her volunteer work in School District 131, spanning over 25 years. She enjoyed working with youth and she continued roller skating into her eighties, saying "it kept her young". She was an artist, enjoyed needlework, gardening, bird watching, crossword puzzles and reading. She appreciated all of God's gifts and the wonderment of nature. Her greatest joy was her family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Margaret was proud of her Scottish and Irish heritage, the lore, customs, and traditions. As a child she was intrigued by stories of leprechauns and faeries, fascinated by their jewel encrusted crowns in her storybooks. Her love of flowers combined with these little people to create a world of magic in her gardens. A happy magic that she carried throughout her life. The faeries have joined hands with Margaret and taken her on a new journey.
"To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O Human child!
To the waters and the wild
With faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand."
– The Stolen Child, W.B. Yeats

Margaret is survived by her four children, Gregg (Debbie) DeKing, Katharine (Lynn Allan) Johnson, Jeffrey (Susy) DeKing, Denise (Bruce) Stredde; six grandchildren, Stacey (Gavin Lockman) Johnson, Kristofer (Corinne Young) Stredde, Kevinne (Joe Thill) Stredde, Erik DeKing, Matthew (Jenna Smith) DeKing, Rebecca DeKing; two great grandchildren, Charlie and Gracie DeKing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Margaret Munn; her husband, Gerald DeKing; twin sons, William and Joseph DeKing; son, Drew DeKing; her mother and father-in-law, Frances and Joseph DeKing; twelve siblings, including Mollie (John Howard, Sr.) Leisinger; William Roy Munn; Rowland Bette (Shirley) Munn; LeRoy (Julia) Munn; Francis Charles Munn; her friend and nephew John Howard Leisinger, Jr.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 N Lake St., Aurora 630-631-5500 www.daleidenmortuary.com
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at St. Anne Church at 10:00 AM Fr. Stephen Eickhoff will officiate with interment at Lincoln Memorial Park.
Please visit our interactive website at www.daleidenmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book or leave condolences for Margaret's family.
Margaret loved flowers, per her wishes please wear "cheerful flower colors" to her services.

It was Margaret's wish to have a memorial bench placed in a public garden, in her and Jerry's name. If you are so inclined, donations for that ecause would be appreciated.