Margaret "Maggie" M Walk

Margaret M. "Maggie" Walk, 77 of Sigel, Illinois, passed away Friday March 13, 2026 in her home after several years of battling Alzheimer's and heart related issues.

She was born October 9,1948 in Trowbridge, Illinois to Elmer and Lucy May.

She married Paul Walk, her high school sweetheart, while he was on leave from the Army, on September 20, 1969 in Sigel.

Maggie was a member of the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Sigel.  

She was a member of BUNCO, a small group of the same close friends who met monthly for 50+ years.  She volunteered at St. Michael's school in the children's reading program and many other Church related activities. 

After high school, she ventured to St. Louis for medical assistant training then returned to Mattoon and worked for Dr. Thiel at the Linc Clinic. Later she established a business providing  in-home medical examinations for life insurance and hired numerous employees to work under her supervision.  Maggie was the receptionist/office manager at the Neoga dental clinic for many years.  While working in town, she also managed the farm accounts, completed all the duties required of a farmer's wife and attended every activity that her daughters participated in. 

She found great joy in caring for her flower garden and had a special love for animals. Over the years, she lovingly cared for many, including bottle-feeding countless kittens. There may have even been a groundhog, squirrel, and numerous raccoons that her daughter's (April) drug home! She also accompanied them on many animal rescue and release adventures.  Maggie convinced Paul to buy the girls their first ponies and started their lifelong passion for horses. Every Sunday after church was filled with family adventures on horseback when the girls were young.

Paul and Maggie lived for over 50 years on their farm which started with only 40 acres and one tractor. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before Paul passed away in 2022. 

Maggie is survived by her daughters; Jennie (Doug) Welsh of Gays and April (Jason Ordner) Walk of Sigel, grandchildren, Jack, Ty and Lexi (Fiancé Cody Hoelscher) Welsh, great-granddaughter Kynlie Welsh, sister, Betty (Steve) Muehl.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, brother, Joe May Sr., sister, Flo Van Bergen, and great-nephew Owen Cunningham.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday March 18, 2026 at 11 AM at St. Michael's Catholic Church 200 Church St. Sigel. Burial to follow in St. Michael's Cemetery Sigel, Illinois.

The family requests that you bring a written memory of Maggie to the funeral mass and place it in a basket at the main entrance of church.

Prayers are requested in lieu of memorial donations, flowers or gifts.

The Swengel - O’Dell Funeral Home of Neoga, Illinois is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.swengel-odell.com.

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