“Marge” Margaret Ann Albee, 81, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away Tuesday morning, February 8, 2022, at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay. She was an accomplished seamstress, compassionate home hospice worker, capable and experienced Certified Nursing Assistant, entrepreneur, loving mother/grandmother/great-grandmother, cheerful companion, uplifting friend, and dedicated Catholic.
Marge was born September 24, 1940 in Milwaukee, oldest daughter of the late “Fred” Ferdinand and “Millie” Mildred (LeClaire) Scholz. Marge was a graduate of Bremen High School, Markham Illinois, where she was an accomplished baton twirler/performer and marching band majorette, leading many parade performances. She was also a volunteer “Candy Striper” at a nearby hospital.
After high school, she worked at Micrecord, her father’s microfilm business. Micrecord was the country's first privately owned microfilm company, and she worked there for her entrepreneur father as a secretary, also assisting with production - including camera work, document preparation, whatever was needed.
She married the late Philip Kent Albee on November 19, 1960, who preceded her in death July 3, 1998. They had four children, Philip Adam Albee (Geomar Obregon) of Chicago, Keith Allen Albee (Donna Colson) of Bisbee AZ, “Eve” Eva Marie Macpherson of Houston TX, “Andrew” Vernon Andrew Albee (Michelle) of Richmond TX; all surviving.
She moved to Door County with husband and children in 1974, at the urging of her dear sister Janice, and a few weeks later, the house and everything in it was lost to fire in the night. Despite the arsonists’ efforts, everyone made it out unharmed, and in the next weeks, the wonderful neighbors of Door County filled Marge’s sister and brother-in-law’s garage, with donations of money, clothes, toys, and food. It was a wonderfully moving experience, as the community basically welcomed us to Door County with that amazing outpouring of generosity. A generous rent offer for a house, came from Roland Bochek, the start of a lifelong friendship that Marge cherished, and that the Albee family will always be grateful for.
Marge loved to sew, and her skill was such that she would regularly sew square dance outfits for herself and her husband, children, relatives, and paying clients - including official couples’ outfits for the National Square Dance conventions. Her embroidery was equal to her sewing skill, and her knitting wasn't far behind that. She could sew just about anything at a professional level, from shirts, to slacks, even shoes and work boots - at Door County's last shoe factory.
After the shoe factory closed, she set her sights on a new career in healthcare, receiving her CNA certification from NWTC, and soon settling in at Porter Kiehnau Home Care Services. She was there almost from the founding, until after Judy Porter sold it. It was there that Marge found her calling in hospice care. She was a CNA until disability forced her retirement, after about 30 years.
Given her entrepreneurial roots, when need met opportunity in the early days, she stepped up without hesitation. Working with her husband, they opened their house as a business; renting rooms to vacationers, local workers, and the occasional traveling salesman. Many were regular seasonal guests, sometimes arriving after the house was asleep, finding Marge’s note on the kitchen island, telling them which room she had readied for them, if it wasn't arranged prior.
The guest rooms were upstairs, separate from the family rooms. Everyone shared the large kitchen, the refrigerators, all the kitchenware, and did their own dishes. Everyone entered through the back door - from the garage through the pantry room into the kitchen - and that door was NOT locked, for around 30 years. You never knew who or what would come through that door, nor when, but it was always interesting, sometimes enlightening, usually friendly, and sometimes thrilling. Somehow, it was always safe.
Marge loved her Catholic faith and was a member of S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute. She was a prayer partner and prayer warrior there, and at St. Joseph, in Sturgeon Bay. She was a member of a Cancer Prayer Group, praying daily rosaries, and divine mercy devotions. Every morning she read the daily Word, read the bible, and prayed for others by name.
Her square dance experiences gave her tremendous joy, beginning with a square dance club in Carlsville, and enjoying clubs in Algoma and Sturgeon Bay, as well. Her sister Janice introduced her to square dance. Marge’s enthusiasm led to two of her children being in and helping develop Cherryland Teens, the first Door County teen square dance club, started under the auspices of her sister Janice and brother-in-law.
Earlier activities include lodge sentry on family ski trips, where Marge kept track of the kids’ comings and goings, making sure no one was out of sight too long, getting them to hydrate and eat, and reporting status’ to their respective relevant adults, when asked. This was before cell phones, of course.
Her religion was central to her life, and Marge spent as much time volunteering as she could. After her retirement, she had more time for that. She always enjoyed being with children, entertaining them and helping them learn, and the children at St. Peter and Paul really loved interacting with her. Marge also enjoyed mending and pressing cassocks for the clergy. In addition, she was honored to support others in need, bringing communion to fellow Catholics when personal attendance wasn't possible.
Marge was an avid card player, Canasta among her favorite games. In her free time, she also enjoyed word search puzzles, computer puzzles, reading, checking Facebook to see what family and friends were up to. Most of all, Marge took special pleasure in helping others, and personally visiting friends and family - always with her big, beautiful smile that lit up the room.
In addition to her four children: Philip Adam Albee (Geomar Obregon) of Chicago, Keith Allen Albee (Donna Colson) of Bisbee AZ, “Eve” Eva Marie Macpherson of Houston TX, “Andrew” Vernon Andrew Albee (Michelle) of Richmond TX; Marge is survived by nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild on the way; two sisters, Janice (Mark) Farmer of Pensacola, FL, and Aricia (Pete) Davisson of Tempe, AZ.
Preceding her in death are her parents Fred and Mildred Scholz; husband Philip Kent Albee; three brothers Paul, John, and Fred (Sharon) Scholz.
Celebration of Life service will be held February 26, 2022, at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay. The Rosary service will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by visiting. Then 2:00 p.m. prayer followed by sharing of memories until 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Marge’s memory, to S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute.
All are welcome to sign the online guestbook and offer condolences, and share memories at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.
