Mary Marjorie "Marj" (Neil) Lehwald

Mary Marjorie “Marj” (Neil) Lehwald, 98, of Encinitas, CA, went home to the arms of Jesus on Monday, October 28, 2019, at 10:10 a.m. at Scripps Memorial Hospital, Encinitas, with her family gathered around praying, reading scriptures, and singing the final chorus of the Christian song, “I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever.”

Mary Marjorie “Marj” Neil was born on December 13, 1920, in Flat Branch Moweaqua, IL to Howard and Alma Fern (Pinkston) Neil. She was a woman of deep Christian faith, courage and endurance. Marj loved Howard Bell Lehwald and married him on June 2, 1941, in Kahoka, MO. Howard served as a Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy during World War II, while Marj was starting their family back on the home front. They had five children; two sons, Howard (wife, Cindy) Lehwald, Jr. of Bishop, CA and Steven (wife, Debbie) of Greeley, CO; three daughters, Bonnie (husband, Al) Halvorsen of Avon Lake, OH, Linda (husband, Earl) Gaball of Battle Creek, MI, and Rebecca (husband, Michael) Levas of Encinitas, CA; fifteen grandchildren, Linda Walters, Jim Halvorsen, Heidi Thimke, Jeffrey, Dr. Curtis, and Matthew Gaball, Heidi Stabb, Heather Gehringer, Howie Lehwald, Eric and Stephen Levas, Stephanie Gurbuz, Steven Lehwald, Jr., Selina Lehwald-Gallegos, and Tiffany Cook; 31 great-grandchildren; and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Marj was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, in 2003; her parents, Howard and Fern; four brothers, Leo, Jack, Rodney, and Bill Neil; and two grandsons, Jeff and Matt Gaball.

Marj deeply loved her family, being a homemaker, her three generations of grandchildren, art, music, quilting, crafting, volunteering in many organizations, and being a member of various artists associations, leagues, and churches. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. Marj sang in choirs, oratorios, taught Sunday School, was Sunday School superintendent, and served on many and varied committees. She was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie and Marquette Hospital Auxiliaries where she especially enjoyed painting Christmas scenes on the hospital windows for the patients to enjoy. She also served as president of several PTAs while her children were in school.

Marj graduated from Bloomington High School in 1938. She was also a graduate of the Famous Artists School of Westport, CT, with Norman Rockwell as one of the key instructors. She was the winning artist chosen by a jury of artists and critics in New York City to have her oil painting displayed at the Ligoa Duncan Gallery in New York City in 1964. The painting was then sent to Paris, France, and displayed at the Raymond Duncan Gallery founded in 1911 and one of the important institutions of Paris. She was a member of the Lake Superior Creative Arts Association while living in Marquette, MI and displayed her paintings at the annual Art on the Rocks events there. She was even pictured in TIME Magazine when they did an article on the event. While living in Tampa, FL, Marj was a member of the Tampa American Artists League.

In her later years, Marj had a craft business in St. Ignace, MI, where she spent her long fun-filled summers in Mackinaw City at Lilac Cottage. She made quilts, crocheted afghans/prayer shawls, hats, scarves, and sewed purses and women’s clothing. A few of her poetry books were featured in the shops over on Mackinac Island as well. She also sold audio tapes of herself playing the piano and singing. While there, she enjoyed visiting with her neighbors, tending to her Lilacs, taking her daily walks, visiting Mackinac Island, Cheboygan, and St. Ignace, and graciously receiving family for many memorable visits at Lilac Cottage. Marj generously gave away many paintings, crafts, and tapes of her music to her beloved family and friends over the years. Writing poetry, authoring three books, and carving block prints to use in making stationery and illustrating her poetry books brought her much happiness. She also enjoyed supporting six children through the Christian Children’s Foundation and World Vision, even putting one child through college.

Marj especially loved traveling and trailering in the Mallard with Howard throughout the United States and Canada to visit family and friends. The outdoors inspired her paintings and she considered herself a North Woods Artist at heart. She loved God, Jesus, her family, and everyone she met, as she shared her smiles, positive attitude, wisdom, encouragement, faith, and stories. These are her gifts and legacy, and she will live on in our hearts, thoughts, and memories forever.

Visitation: Family will receive guests from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Butler Funeral Home—Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.

Funeral Ceremony: 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Butler Funeral Home—Springfield with Celebrant Heidi Thimke, granddaughter of Marj, along with Marj’s five children, officiating.

Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rebecca Levas, 1810 Orchard Wood Rd., Encinitas, CA 92024. The contributions will be used to purchase memorial benches to be placed in Mackinaw City and in Marquette in honor of Howard and Marj; envelopes will be available during ceremonies.