In Memory

Margaret Buhrer [Faculty Member]

                                                                       

Margaret 'Maggie' Buhrer

Published: Defiance Crescent-News, May 3, 2014

 

Margaret E. "Maggie" Buhrer passed away early in the morning on Thursday, April 17, 2014, at CHP Defiance Area In­Patient Hospice Center of Defiance, Ohio, following a brief illness.

Maggie was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, on October 22, 1920. The daughter of the late Florence E. (Michaels)and Harold Dana Hopkins, she was a 1938 graduate of Tiffin Columbian High School, received her BA degree from Heidelberg College in 1942, and pursued postgraduate studies at Bowling Green State University in the early 1950s.

In the summer of 1942, August 5, Maggie joined Edward Charles Buhrer in loving marriage, and they had four children, Eric, Karen "Kit," Jan, and Jeffrey. Ed preceded Maggie in death on December 15, 1982.

A housewife and mother until the early '60's, Maggie began her teaching career at Defiance High school in 1961, where she taught speech and English and directed numerous school plays and children's theatre until her retirement in 1982. Upon her retirement and following Ed's death, she became an active volunteer with the Fort Defiance Players, the Laubach Literacy Reading program, Defiance County Hospice, RSVP Meals on Wheels, Defiance Hospital Auxiliary, the American Red Cross, Defiance Friends of the Library, and was a member of Defiance College Women's Commission, Sorosis, and the Ruth Circle and Chancel Choir at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. She also loved reading, travelling, sailing, camping and swimming, and spending time with her family ­­ especially her pets, grandchildren and great­grandchildren.

Maggie was engaging, warm and witty ­­ bringing an atmosphere of fun to her classroom and the joy of public speaking and acting to countless young people. A talented actress herself, she participated in several community theatre plays and musicals. She was a lover of animals, poetry, literature, music and nature, and shared her creativity, laughter, wisdom, and kind, gentle affection with her students, family and friends throughout her life. To know her truly was to love her!

Surviving her are two brothers, Robert Hopkins of Cincinnati, Ohio, J. Richard Hopkins of Midland, Michigan; three children, Eric (Kathy) Buhrer of Cincinnati, Jan (Frank) Craig of Defiance, and Jeffrey (Pam) Buhrer of Defiance; eight grandchildren; and nine great­grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and great­nieces and ­nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed; and her daughter, Kit.

Visitation for Maggie will be held on Friday, May 9, from 1­7 p.m. at Schaffer Funeral Home, 529 Jefferson Avenue in Defiance, with a service of celebration and remembrance at 6:30 p.m.

For those wishing to honor her memory with a memorial, her family suggests the Defiance Public Library, CHP Defiance Area In­Patient Hospice Center of Defiance, St. Paul United Methodist Food Pantry, DCCC Fund c/o Defiance Area Foundation, or the donor's choice. Online condolences may be left at www.schafferfh.com.