Margaret Gilbert

Margaret G. Gilbert passed away on April 7, 2020 at the age of 88. Affectionately known as Peg, Margaret Elizabeth Garner was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania on January 31, 1932, to James Herbert and Margaret Norris Garner. Peg was an exceptionally talented musician, as a soprano and as a pianist. She was accepted into Oberlin Conservatory for Voice Performance, though attended Grove City College in Pennsylvania and ultimately received her B.S. in Medical Technology from what is now Michigan State University. Her career path led her to the Cleveland Clinic, where she completed her internship and worked as a Medical Technologist, specializing in blood bank technologies. From Cleveland, she returned to Battle Creek, Michigan and worked in the hematology department at Community Hospital. It was in Battle Creek that she met Ed Gilbert. They were married in 1954. Peg and Ed moved to Ann Arbor, where together they raised a family. Peg was a devoted wife and mother to their three children, Anne, Linda and Mark.

Peg worked as a Medical Technologist with the blood banks at both University and St. Joseph Mercy Hospitals for many years. In addition to her professional work, Peg was passionate about justice and equality. She worked on behalf of women’s rights with different organizations including Planned Parenthood. She challenged the State of Michigan to issue fishing licenses to women on their own accord without the need of a ‘spousal’ license through their husbands, and won. She was a member of the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club, but resigned when the club was not ethnically diverse enough. Most people who knew Peg during this time knew she was a force with whom to be reckoned. This strength developed early in Peg’s life. As a young girl, she had many serious illnesses including typhoid and rheumatic fever, and didn’t walk for an entire year. She recovered, persevered and moved forward, determined to stand up for what she felt was fair and just.

Even while raising a family and working as a Medical Technologist, Peg continued to thoroughly enjoy making music. She sang in the University of Michigan Choral Union Society and played the piano throughout her life. In her later years as a longtime resident at Glacier Hills, Peg was frequently asked to perform on the piano for various musical performances, including the annual holiday concert. It brought her great pleasure to make music with and for her friends and the residents at Glacier Hills.

In addition to music, Peg’s passions included gardening, sports and travel. She was a Master Gardener and enjoyed creating diverse gardens, from formal to vegetable to wildflower meadows. For years she shared a gardening plot at Project Grow. Her zinnias were magnificent each year in her Glacier Hills gardens. Peg loved walking, swimming, canoeing with her family, and even took up running and windsurfing. She loved vacationing in warm locales and to any beach destination. One of her and Ed’s favorite places was Glen Arbor, where they spent many happy times. Peg also loved her visits to the Netherlands, Sanibel Island and the Virgin Islands.

One of the great joys of Peg’s life was her family. She loved her children deeply, and was a proud and loving grandmother to her four grandchildren. Her grandchildren have fond memories of snow days, baking cookies and riding bikes at Grandma’s. To those not in her immediate family, Peg was a true and faithful friend. As one close friend said, ‘when you look up the word generous in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Peg’. Another said, ‘one doesn’t have many friends like Peg during their lifetime’.

Peg was preceded in death by her husband Ed Gilbert and her sister Letitia Garner. She is survived by her children, Anne Gilbert (Ann Arbor, MI), Linda Gilbert (Houston, TX), Mark Gilbert and Carol Lively (Ann Arbor, MI); her grandchildren Dillon Hakken, Darby Hakken, Lydia Gilbert and Meredith Gilbert; her brother James H. Garner, Jr. and sister-in-law Carol Garner; her nephews William and Robert, her niece Lynne and their families; her foster daughter Claire Verweij (Ann Arbor, MI). She is deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Planned Parenthood, Project Grow or the Glacier Hills Employee Emergency Support Program. Information about a memorial service to celebrate Peg’s life will be forthcoming.