Maggie L. Hall, 102, of Little Sioux, a gentle spirit, a quiet soul slipped away from this life on May 27, 2025.
Maggie Leona Burns was born Dec. 15, 1922, to Fredrick and Elizabeth Burns of River Sioux. Maggie attended K-8th grades in the Washout Country School north of River Sioux. She graduated from Little Sioux High School in 1943. Maggie became a teacher and taught for one year at Washout School and one year at the Orson School. She also was a translator for her German immigrant mother who could not read English. Maggie was a voracious reader, learning of the world through books.
On Dec. 23, 1945, Maggie united in marriage with Donald Leroy Hall in Missouri Valley. In their later years, Donald and Maggie enjoyed trips west in their camper to Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and the Black Hills were some of their favorite spots. They enjoyed fifty-three years of loving companionship, and mutual support until Donald’s death on Dec. 20, 1998.
Grandchildren were a special joy, bringing with them the introduction to the card game UNO. The standing joke was that the rule sheet should be tossed with each new deck. This simple card game became a standard ritual for anyone who gathered at the kitchen table. How could one player always be so lucky? With a poker-player’s face, Maggie could draw out the inevitable draw-four, draw-two, or wild cards and innocently announce “I’m just giving you cards to play with” or “I’m only playing what I’ve got”, or the ultimate copout “I’m not cheating! It just looks that way!”
After a severe outbreak of shingles in 2018, and living with residual nerve pain, Maggie became vocal in favor of the Shingles Vaccination.
In 2022, Maggie moved to live with her daughter. She continued to read (especially vintage Kitchen Klatter Magazines!), work on word search puzzles, and always played UNO before bed.
On her 100th birthday, Maggie was asked to recall a happy memory. Without hesitation she answered, “Learning to read!” which remained a pleasure throughout her life.
The landscape of her birth no longer exists - the woods have been cleared and the river channels changed for the flood control, but Maggie attributed her long life and overall good health to a childhood of game, fish, and the abundant gardens the family raised.
She is survived by her daughter Bonny Hall; sons John Hall and Arnold Hall; three grandchildren Vicki (Weston) Osborn, Adrienne Essmann, Jebediah Essmann; and one great-grandchild Ravi Essmann.
Maggie was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Hall; son Lonny Hall; and all her siblings William, George, and Charles (Doug) Burns.
A public visitation was Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Goslar Funeral Home Chapel, Onawa. A private family graveside service will be held at the Little Sioux Cemetery, Little Sioux, with Darren C. E. Goslar, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa.
Condolences may be left online for the family at www.goslarfuneralhome.com
