Margaret M. (Zwiener) Hogan, 95

Published 11:09 am Thursday, November 10, 2011

Margaret M. (Zwiener) Hogan, 95, of Austin, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Prairie Manor in Blooming Prairie.

Margaret Hogan

Margaret was born Feb. 27, 1916, in Blooming Prairie, Minn., to Frank and Hansena (Mayland) Zwiener. Margaret graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1934. She married Hjalmer Hogan. He preceded her in death on March 8, 1979.

Margaret was a member of the St. Augustine P.T.A., St. Augustine Council of Catholic Women, St. Edward’s Council of Catholic Women and president the last year before merging with the men’s group to form St. Edward’s Hospitality group, and she served six years on the Winona Council of Catholic Women. Margaret was correspondent for the Winona Diocesan Courier, a delegate from St. Ed’s WCCW National Convention of CCW in Miami Beach, Fla., and a delegate representing WDCCW at National Convention in New Orleans, La. Margaret was a parish historian, a member of the Philomathian, and was on the League of Women Voters, serving on the board for 10 years in Public Relations and Voter Service. While in Voter Service, she created and produced candidate forums on KSMQ Television and also community forums and voter registration events. Margaret attended five state LWV conventions and two national conventions. While at Austin Community College, now Riverland, Margaret was elected to the Honor Society: Phi Theta Kappa in her first year, she attended the State Convention in Minneapolis and the national conventions in Kansas City and Washington D.C.

Margaret was a Red Cross Volunteer for Blood Services and has a 30-year pin plus an additional seven years. She was appointed to a Reader’s Panel for the Austin Daily Herald by Tony Pierskalla, Editor. She was an election judge: 2nd Ward First Precinct, a head judge for four election series including one year for the Lansing Township Community. Margaret was a Girl Scout Leader for two troops from Brownies to senior scouts on the Austin Girl Scout Council. She was also involved in the Boy Scouts.

Margaret was appointed to the Mower County Solid Waste Committee as the public representative and was acting historian for her graduating class of 1934 at Blooming Prairie High School. Her employment included community relations for KAUS Radio 1480 Austin and public relations for Austin Community College. Margaret graduated with an associate in arts degree with honors. She attended off-campus courses in Rochester and attended summer sessions at the University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Birmingham-England, University of Eau Clair-Wisconsin, University of Superior-Wisconsin, University of River Falls-Wisconsin, Weekend College at College of St. Catherine.

Survivors include her son, Thomas Hogan; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her sister, Irene Wakefield; nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara; three brothers and one sister.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating. There will be a 4 p.m. wake service on Friday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.