Margaret Wierda

 Margaret (Peggy) Ann Hughes Wierda, 92, formerly of Sioux Center, died Sunday, July 24, 2022 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

A prayer service for family and friends will be held Friday morning, October 14 at Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Visitation will commence at 9:00 AM with a memorial service at 10:30 AM. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

LIVE STREAM: WIERDA

In lieu of flowers, the Wierda family prefers memorials be directed to Central Reformed Church, Sioux Center, Iowa.

Margaret (Peggy) Ann Hughes was born March 16, 1930, to Albert Edward and Margaret Viola (Miller) Hughes in Ireton, Iowa. She was the third child born to a family that would eventually compose nine children. Because there was little money, the family had to rely on hand me downs and, at times, help from neighbors and other family in the area. In junior high she worked as a “hired girl” cleaning house and then at the local drug store soda fountain during high school.  After high school, she met and married her life-long partner, Reynold (Ray) Wierda, on a blind date, and they were married on July 2, 1948 at the Ireton Presbyterian Church and enjoyed almost 67 years together until Ray passed away in 2015.

After their marriage, Peggy became a full-time homemaker and mother as well as a bookkeeper for Wierda Decorating Service. She and Ray started a family in a small house on North Main Street in Sioux Center that was built by his uncle, Dick Doornink. In 1962, the family moved to a farm 3.5 miles north of Sioux Center where they lived until moving next door into a new home built on former pastureland.  The next moves were into the town of Sioux Center and then to the Conquistador Court in Mesa AZ where they enjoyed retirement near her sister Pauline and among many wonderful friends until Ray passed away. Peggy then spent her remaining years living in Lowell AR with her son Brad and daughter Val.

Peggy was a homemaker all her life and to her children she was the epitome of a mother.  Her steadfast love and care were especially expressed in her kitchen where she spent much of her time preparing all kinds of meals and treats for her family, or for anyone who dropped by to visit. Her favorite pastime was playing hymns on her organ of which the whole neighborhood was serenaded with, like it or not, as she always played the instrument at maximum volume.  A cherished memory of hers was a trip to the Holy Lands in Israel with her brothers and sisters which she said was so wonderful because she walked where Jesus walked. She was a member of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. 

She is survived by her children, Daniel (Mary) Wierda of New Palestine, IN, Valery Vickers (Bill) of Centerton, AR, Bradley Wierda of Lowell, AR, and Renae (Michael) Macy of Rapid City, SD; 7 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers Jon M (Donna) Hughes of Winner, SD, Charles M Hughes of Sioux Falls, SD and sisters Pauline Schaller of Sioux Falls, SD, Nancy Jordan of Prior Lake, MN, and Sally Calkins of Sioux Falls, SD, and sister-in-law Myrtle (Wierda) Kiel of Orange City, IA,  and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband Reynold, her brother Donald W. Hughes, sisters Helen L. Schneider and Myrna R. Westra, and her parents Albert E. and Margaret V. Hughes.