Margaret Ann (Herink) Handsaker entered into heavenly peace on Sunday, July 30, 2023, at the age of 97.

Margaret was born May 8, 1926, on the family farm near Clutier, Iowa. She was the daughter of Emma (Votrobeck) and Edward Herink. She attended the country school in Clutier and graduated in 1942. She held numerous jobs in Marshalltown before marrying Merlin Wyatt Handsaker in a double-wedding ceremony at the Methodist church in Toledo, Iowa on April 15,1946.

They began their career in farming north of Colo where Margaret worked alongside Merlin to build their farm operation. She also worked outside the home at R&H Donnellys for 15 years.

Margaret was a faithful member of the Colo United Methodist Church, United Methodist Legion Auxiliary, and the Colo BF&T Club. Her hobbies included cooking, gardening, reading, and embroidering, but her favorite times were spent among family and friends.

Throughout their life together, Margaret and Merlin enjoyed taking vacations and loved travelling in their motor home for several years. One of their favorite travels was caravanning to Alaska for 2 months. They wintered in Arizona and Texas and made many friends along the way. Spending time attending musical jamborees and playing dominoes were favorite pass times.

Margaret was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Margaret is survived by daughter Delores J. Miller (Allen) of Muscatine, and Larry (June) Handsaker of Nevada. She was blessed with four grandchildren, Kevin (Beth) Miller of Polk City, Bryan Miller of Illinois City, Il. Kristina (Tod) Keeth of Perryton, Tx. and Jason (Liz) Handsaker of Pilot Point, Tx. Sources of joy in her later years were her great-grandchildren, Avery, Kristyn, Mason, Zachary, and Abigail Miller, Ashton, and Alison Handsaker and great great-grandchildren Charlie Anthony and Kingston Westerfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Merlin, nine brothers and sisters, and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, August 4, 2023, at Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home (1418 Fawcett Pkwy) in Nevada. A funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2023, at the Colo United Methodist Church (602 4th Street) in Colo with Pastor Nikki Ross-Bishop officiating. Burial will follow at the Colo Cemetery in Colo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Colo United Methodist Church, the Colo Fire Department or St. Croix Hospice.

Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com