Margaret E. Greve

Margaret E. Greve, 86, of Highland, Ill., passed away on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in Highland, Ill., surrounded by her family.

Margaret was born Margaret Emaline Smith on Sept. 1, 1936, in Unadilla, N.Y., to parents Floyd and Pearl (nee Evans) Smith. She grew up in Unadilla and graduated from Unadilla Central School in 1954. After high school, Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in education from New York State Teachers College at Potsdam (State University of New York at Potsdam) and taught elementary school English. On Aug. 23, 1958, in Unadilla, she married Lance Greve. Two children followed.

Having a husband in the U.S. Air Force, she and Lance moved around a lot—including to Germany, where they lived for four years, primarily in Hochheim am Main, before moving to Belton, Mo., and then to Highland, Ill. Margaret has resided in Highland since January 1978.

Margaret enjoyed traveling, once taking a month-long road trip to Alaska through Canada with Lance. She especially loved frequenting their beautiful summer cottage on the Skaneateles Finger Lake, N.Y., where she and Lance lived during the summer months. She also loved their regular trips to Florida. Aside from traveling, Margaret liked reading various genres of novels and being an active member of her church. She found meaning in her faith, and she and Lance were longtime members of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Edwardsville, Ill., where Margaret was a member of the Women’s Vestry.

A generous woman, Margaret would give you the shirt off her back if needed. She had a great sense of humor, cracking jokes to all and using comedic faces and voices to tell stories to her grandchildren. Anyone who knew her absolutely adored her, and she loved them right back. Above all else, Margaret was a family woman. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Margaret was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Pearl Smith, and her brothers, Larry Smith and Bruce Smith.

Margaret is survived by her husband of 64 years, Lt. Col. Lance Greve; children, Jon (Debbie) Greve and Virginia Cottrell; grandchildren, Shandi (Jason Penrod) Greve Penrod, Ashley (Mike Zhebrak) Greve, Emma (Edgar) Lavalle, Leathel Bowles, and Mitchell Cottrell; great-grandchildren, Cypress Penrod, Oliver Bowles, Arnold Bowles, Edgar A. Lavalle, and Rhett Seefeldt; nieces, Cheri Hunter and Sandra Smith; and nephews, Randy Smith and Kim Smith; and great-niece, Cristy Baker.

Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/greatermissouri or Alzheimer’s Association, Attn: Donor Services, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, “in Memory of Margaret Emaline Greve.”

Memorial Visitation: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, from 9 to 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Edwardsville, Ill.

Memorial Service: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, 11 a.m., at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Edwardsville, Ill.

Clergy: Fr. Mark Klamer and Fr. John Conner

Inurnment: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Columbarium and Memorial Garden, Edwardsville, Ill.