Official Obituary of
Margaret Anne (Kuenning) Pilch
February 19, 1929 ~ July 24, 2021 (age 92) 92 Years Old
Margaret Pilch Obituary
Margaret Anne Pilch (Kuenning)
Margaret was born, raised and educated in Auburn, Nebraska along with her older brother Don. As a younger sister, she always idolized Don and he stood as her protector throughout her lifetime. When Margaret was quite young she contracted Rheumatic Fever, but miraculously survived the dreaded illness. As a youngster and during her entire lifetime Margaret was an avid reader, and during her school years in Auburn Margaret excelled in her academics. After her High School graduation, Margaret pursued further education at Peru State College and upon getting her degree entered the world of education, being an elementary school teacher, a career that touched the lives of many children until the time she retired some forty years later!
One day in 1950 at a celebration that took place at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Auburn, a young college student named Jay Pilch spotted a stunning young lady that captivated his attention. He realized that he had gone to high school with her, but had forgotten how beautiful she was. Jay went over and reintroduced himself to Margaret Kuenning and asked: "Are your folks taking you home?" That question lit the spark that started the fire of love bringing the two of them into the world of matrimony on May 25, 1951, at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. And those vows of "till death do we part" lasted for over sixty-one years until Jay's passing in 2012. The young couple moved to Stuart, Nebraska where they taught school. Next, they taught in Rockport, Mo. In 1956 Margaret and Jay moved to Depoe Bay, Oregon and taught in Newport. Then two years later in 1958 they moved to Pilot Rock where they served as school teachers, living in their newly built house for the next 62 years. It was there, the couple was blessed with two wonderful sons. Margaret gave birth to Todd who was born the same year they moved to Pilot Rock (in 1958) and to Tim a year later in 1959. Margaret was a loving and caring mother who used her gift of teaching to raise and train up her own two children to be respectable and well-informed young men.
In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, Margaret was always a classy, well dressed lady whether at school or at home. She was very professional, an outstanding communicator, and possessed incredible organizational and administrative skills. She put those skills to work in Pilot Rock Schools by organizing the library and establishing the Media Center as well as instructing others in the newly advancing computer field. She was also a professional reader, serving in that capacity both in the field of education and at religious functions. At Peace Lutheran Church in Pendleton, Margaret brought new life to the Church Library using her skills and talents to make it a state-of-the-art reading and book-lending center. Whatever project Margaret undertook to accomplish, she did it in a professional, but very functional way.
Although Margaret had been engaged in many church activities and had been a faithful attender wherever the family had lived, she became aware that something was missing in her life. It was in the early 1970's, the boys were now entering their teens, her job was going fine, but it wasn’t enough somehow. Margaret started doing a Bible Study with a group of Christian women in Pendleton. Later the group was called "Women Aglow." It was through that group that Margaret remembered putting aside religion and making a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, taking on a personal relationship with Him. It began one day when a group was learning how to share their faith by asking the question: "If you died today, are you sure you would go to heaven?" The question hit home with Margaret and she invited Jesus to come into her heart and life. Life was never the same. The world around her with all its problems no longer overwhelmed her. She knew that with Jesus in her life, that she was headed to heaven someday.
As the boys were growing up, Margaret and Jay took them back to Nebraska often to visit loved ones. They also took the family camping at Wallowa Lake, mushrooming and picking blueberries in the Blue Mtns, skiing at Spout Springs and Anthony Lakes, or to anywhere on the Oregon coast – their favorite.) Margaret and the family also went on longer trips to San Diego, Disneyland, the Redwoods, and camping up the northwest coast clear to Victoria, British Columbia. Margaret loved flowers, always having a striking display at her own home, so the Butchart Gardens were a favorite to her. The family also took in the World's Fair in Seattle in 1962 and the World's Fair in Spokane in 1974.
When the grandchildren started coming, Margaret was at the height of her glory. She loved on them with the same great love she had for her own children, and they loved her and enjoyed spending time with her. Her last grandchild was born about the time Margaret retired from teaching in 1994. The thing she wanted more than anything else for them was that each of them might have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ like she had.
When the Lutheran Church was attempting to deal with spiritual problems within the culture, Margaret turned to the Bible to find answers. Because she was an avid reader, a school teacher and a woman of God, she and her family had to make a decision. Following what the Bible taught, Margaret, Jay and other faithful followers of the Lord started a new church plant in Pendleton called Faith Lutheran Church. She prayed for that new ministry and watched as God blessed their gatherings. Her prayers for her Church and Church family goes on. Jay left her on August 12, 2012, but Margaret went on working for the Lord and spending time with Him. She moved from Pilot Rock into the Sun Ridge Community in 2017 where she could be closer to her family. It was at her home there on Saturday morning, July 24, 2021, that Margaret Anne Pilch left this old world behind and headed up to be with her Savior and Lord in heaven for all eternity. It was graduation day!
Margaret’s Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00am, August 10, 2021 at Pendleton Baptist Church (next to Sun Ridge Retirement Community). Graveside at Skyview Memorial to follow.
Contributions can be made in Margaret's name to:
Hope with Options -
Pregnancy Care
311 SE Dorion
Pendleton OR 97801
Margaret's service can be viewed on line by going to Todd@pilchworks on facebook.
Margaret was born, raised and educated in Auburn, Nebraska along with her older brother Don. As a younger sister, she always idolized Don and he stood as her protector throughout her lifetime. When Margaret was quite young she contracted Rheumatic Fever, but miraculously survived the dreaded illness. As a youngster and during her entire lifetime Margaret was an avid reader, and during her school years in Auburn Margaret excelled in her academics. After her High School graduation, Margaret pursued further education at Peru State College and upon getting her degree entered the world of education, being an elementary school teacher, a career that touched the lives of many children until the time she retired some forty years later!
One day in 1950 at a celebration that took place at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Auburn, a young college student named Jay Pilch spotted a stunning young lady that captivated his attention. He realized that he had gone to high school with her, but had forgotten how beautiful she was. Jay went over and reintroduced himself to Margaret Kuenning and asked: "Are your folks taking you home?" That question lit the spark that started the fire of love bringing the two of them into the world of matrimony on May 25, 1951, at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church. And those vows of "till death do we part" lasted for over sixty-one years until Jay's passing in 2012. The young couple moved to Stuart, Nebraska where they taught school. Next, they taught in Rockport, Mo. In 1956 Margaret and Jay moved to Depoe Bay, Oregon and taught in Newport. Then two years later in 1958 they moved to Pilot Rock where they served as school teachers, living in their newly built house for the next 62 years. It was there, the couple was blessed with two wonderful sons. Margaret gave birth to Todd who was born the same year they moved to Pilot Rock (in 1958) and to Tim a year later in 1959. Margaret was a loving and caring mother who used her gift of teaching to raise and train up her own two children to be respectable and well-informed young men.
In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, Margaret was always a classy, well dressed lady whether at school or at home. She was very professional, an outstanding communicator, and possessed incredible organizational and administrative skills. She put those skills to work in Pilot Rock Schools by organizing the library and establishing the Media Center as well as instructing others in the newly advancing computer field. She was also a professional reader, serving in that capacity both in the field of education and at religious functions. At Peace Lutheran Church in Pendleton, Margaret brought new life to the Church Library using her skills and talents to make it a state-of-the-art reading and book-lending center. Whatever project Margaret undertook to accomplish, she did it in a professional, but very functional way.
Although Margaret had been engaged in many church activities and had been a faithful attender wherever the family had lived, she became aware that something was missing in her life. It was in the early 1970's, the boys were now entering their teens, her job was going fine, but it wasn’t enough somehow. Margaret started doing a Bible Study with a group of Christian women in Pendleton. Later the group was called "Women Aglow." It was through that group that Margaret remembered putting aside religion and making a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, taking on a personal relationship with Him. It began one day when a group was learning how to share their faith by asking the question: "If you died today, are you sure you would go to heaven?" The question hit home with Margaret and she invited Jesus to come into her heart and life. Life was never the same. The world around her with all its problems no longer overwhelmed her. She knew that with Jesus in her life, that she was headed to heaven someday.
As the boys were growing up, Margaret and Jay took them back to Nebraska often to visit loved ones. They also took the family camping at Wallowa Lake, mushrooming and picking blueberries in the Blue Mtns, skiing at Spout Springs and Anthony Lakes, or to anywhere on the Oregon coast – their favorite.) Margaret and the family also went on longer trips to San Diego, Disneyland, the Redwoods, and camping up the northwest coast clear to Victoria, British Columbia. Margaret loved flowers, always having a striking display at her own home, so the Butchart Gardens were a favorite to her. The family also took in the World's Fair in Seattle in 1962 and the World's Fair in Spokane in 1974.
When the grandchildren started coming, Margaret was at the height of her glory. She loved on them with the same great love she had for her own children, and they loved her and enjoyed spending time with her. Her last grandchild was born about the time Margaret retired from teaching in 1994. The thing she wanted more than anything else for them was that each of them might have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ like she had.
When the Lutheran Church was attempting to deal with spiritual problems within the culture, Margaret turned to the Bible to find answers. Because she was an avid reader, a school teacher and a woman of God, she and her family had to make a decision. Following what the Bible taught, Margaret, Jay and other faithful followers of the Lord started a new church plant in Pendleton called Faith Lutheran Church. She prayed for that new ministry and watched as God blessed their gatherings. Her prayers for her Church and Church family goes on. Jay left her on August 12, 2012, but Margaret went on working for the Lord and spending time with Him. She moved from Pilot Rock into the Sun Ridge Community in 2017 where she could be closer to her family. It was at her home there on Saturday morning, July 24, 2021, that Margaret Anne Pilch left this old world behind and headed up to be with her Savior and Lord in heaven for all eternity. It was graduation day!
Margaret’s Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00am, August 10, 2021 at Pendleton Baptist Church (next to Sun Ridge Retirement Community). Graveside at Skyview Memorial to follow.
Contributions can be made in Margaret's name to:
Hope with Options -
Pregnancy Care
311 SE Dorion
Pendleton OR 97801
Margaret's service can be viewed on line by going to Todd@pilchworks on facebook.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Margaret Anne (Kuenning) Pilch, please visit our floral store.
© 2026 Pendleton Pioneer Chapel, Folsom-Bishop. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility