Margaret Ann (Peg) French

Margaret Ann (Peg) Bierie Wedemeier French passed away February 6, 2017, at the Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock. She was 86.

A funeral service will be held at 11 AM Friday, February 10 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church in Mountain Home, AR, with Father Norbert Rappold as Celebrant. A visitation will be held from 4-6 PM Sunday, February 12 at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Home, 400 South Street in Waterloo, IA, with a graveside service at Mount Olivet Cemetery at 11 AM Monday, February 13. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross.

The youngest of five children, Margaret was born in Waterloo, IA, on February 2, 1931, to Frederick and Irene Clabby Bierie, both members of pioneer families. She was a lifelong Catholic.

Margaret grew up in Waterloo attending St. Mary’s School. After graduation, she began working as Assistant Sales Promotion Manager for James Black Dry Goods Co. in Waterloo before moving to Chicago, where she continued her career as Advertising Manager for Mandel Bros. Department Store. Margaret was a runway model for several major manufacturers and retailers in Chicago, and was an active member of BPW, Toastmistress International and various choral and theater groups.
In 1956, Margaret began her overseas adventures when she joined the American Red Cross and headed to France. She worked with U.S. troops, dependents and the local community in Red Cross Recreational Centers in Chateauroux, Evereaux and Metz.

After transferring to Korea in 1959, Margaret was a unit director for the Red Cross mobile recreation program, also known as “Donut Dollies.” She served with the 1st Calvary Division Clubmobile Unit in Munsanee and 1st Corps Headquarters in Uijambu, where she “contributed much to the morale of the men, bringing a touch of home into their day-to-day living in Korea.”
Margaret traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Far East, and told fascinating stories about her exploits. While visiting Tokyo, Japan, in 1960, she narrowly escaped being caught in rioting when the Japanese protested a visit by President Eisenhower. And while visiting communist Czechoslovakia, her freedom was jeopardized when her traveling companion carried a letter from a Czech citizen across the border. Whether she was picking rice in a paddy in Korea alongside a brigadier general or cutting a piece of the tape marking the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea as a souvenir, Margaret took full advantage of her opportunity to travel the world…and loved every minute of it.

In 1960, Margaret married Capt. Terry T. Wedemeier, US Army, in Tokyo and was widowed eighteen months later. In 1965, she married Capt. Jimmie H. French, USAF, at Warner Robins, GA. Upon his retirement in 1974, the couple, with their six children, moved to Bull Shoals, AR, and later to Lakeview.

Margaret and Jimmie provided a home where kids (and pets) were always welcome. Their house was the gathering place for friends of their children and children of their friends. Although Margaret “only” raised six kids, she and Jimmie were “Mom” and “Dad” to many more.

Margaret had a fun, sparkling personality. She enjoyed socializing and developed deep, enduring friendships that lasted a lifetime. She loved art, theatre and music, and was an avid reader and solver of crossword puzzles.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, sisters Genevieve Pearson and Lucille Mount, and brothers, Major (Ret.) Thomas Bierie USAF, and Col. (Ret.) Elwyn L. Bierie, US Army.

Survivors include twin sons Terry Wedemeier French of Houston, TX, and Richard Wedemeier French of San Diego, CA; son James French of Benton, AR; daughters Teresa Campbell of Springdale, AR, Lynn French of Austin, TX, and Becky McCauley of Little Rock, AR; granddaughter Nicole Shipp of Fayetteville, AR; two great grandchildren Carley and Cameron and many loving nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

Arrangements by Kirby & Family Funeral & Cremation Services.