100 years of history

100 years of history-Margaret Krebs

Margaret Krebs shares 100 years of history in this episode of Discover Montcalm. Born in Trufant Michigan, Margaret’s grandparents sailed from Denmark in 1883, settling in the Gowen, near Trufant. From a young age she loved to teach. Teaching her younger siblings how to read when she was five or six. She graduated valedictorian at 16, received a Reader’s Digest Scholarship which allowed her to attend Central State Teachers College, now called Central Michigan University.

“It is not often you can chat with someone almost a century old,” producer and host of Discover Montcalm Duane Weed says. “Library Director Cheryl Smith from the Reynolds Township Library joined me to interview Margaret. I would have loved to have done this interview with my grandparents. This was fun.”

When asked what technology she best enjoyed over her lifetime, Margaret responded with, “Having my mom see a refrigerator or washing machine, that would have been nice.”

According to a Daily News article, “Margaret’s faith has always been strong. In 1970, she was called upon by a Grand Rapids priest to start what would become Christ the King Catholic Church in Howard City. In 1976, St. Francis de Sales in Morley joined Christ the King and Margaret’s husband, LaMoyne, then in the real estate business, found the property at M-46 and Reed Road, where it is located presently. The Daily News article went on to say that In 2018, for the 150-year celebration of Howard City, she was honored to be the annual Harvest Festival grand marshal. Her granddaughters, Haley and Mary, and son, Alan, rode with her. Gov. Rick Snyder gave her a certificate of special tribute. In part, the governor’s written remarks sum up her life: “Margaret Nielsen Krebs, a long-time resident of Howard City, has been an active community member.

As an educator, she has shaped the minds of our state’s children. As a faithful disciple, she helped found the first and only Catholic parish in Howard City. Thank you for your tireless work, and many contributions to Howard City and the State of Michigan.” One thing this interview taught me is that you are never too old to do something new. Margaret became an author when she was 97, ‘100 Years of change’ was written with the help of her oldest daughter Karen Cornell, wife of Rob Cornell The book was written after Margaret’s blessed survival of a serious hospitalization in 2021.

The book is a perfect gift for anyone interested in life during the early 1900’s, Margaret Mary (Nielsen) Krebs at age 98 has written a beautiful story about her life growing up in Trufant, Michigan. Raised by hard-working, loving parents on the family farm with her eight siblings and grandpa White. Although her family was losing their farm due to the depression, she worked her way through college and went on to teach for more than 37 years. She even managed to start a catholic church. Her infectious smile and laugh can be felt in the words of this beautiful story about family, change, determination and love.

100 years of history

100 Years of Change: The Life of Margaret Mary (Nielsen) Krebs Paperback – March 31, 2022 by Margaret Mary Krebs (Author), Karen Cornell (Author) You may find her book in the libraries of Howard City, Cedar Springs and Lakeview. It may also be ordered via Amazon.

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