Margaret L. Debaun

Margaret L. DeBaun, 94, formerly of Osage City, passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at The Arboretum in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where she had received exceptional care over the past eight years. She previously resided in Osage City for over 40 years.

Margaret L. Allison was born December 25, 1922 in Topeka, KS, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lacy) Allison. She graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1940 as salutatorian of her class and attended Dodd’s secretarial school.

She was joined in marriage to S. Burton “Burt” DeBaun, of Wakarusa, on January 17, 1943 in Champaign, Illinois, where he was in a Navy training school during WWII. To this union three boys were born, Robert, Thomas and John. Burt preceded her in death on May 27, 1995.

Early in her career, Margaret worked for Capper Publication and Santa Fe in Topeka, and then with Pacific South Phone Co., Railway Express and Long Beach Telegram in California during the “war years”. Beginning with the arrival of the first of three children and Burt’s employment with International Harvester Co., she became a wonderful stay-at-home mom. For the next 25 years, Margaret orchestrated nine employment related moves for her family to new homes (schools, health care, friends, etc.) in Topeka (twice); Marysville; Kansas City, KS (twice); St. Joseph, MO; Amarillo, TX (twice) and Western Springs, Illinois. She enjoyed fishing, hiking, arrowhead hunting, yard work, landscaping, decorating, and any other activity with her family. None of her sons (or future grandchildren) ever lacked for love, encouragement, nourishment, or discipline when needed.

In 1965, Margaret and Burt purchased a farm equipment dealership and moved to Osage City. She was the vice-president an corporate secretary for many of the next 30 years of their company, which sold after their retirement and Burt’s death. Margaret remained in her Osage City home for another 14 years before moving to the senior care facility in Wisconsin, near her eldest son’s family.

Survivors include two sons, John H. (Gayle) DeBaun of Brookfield, Wisconsin and Thomas (Laura) DeBaun of Osage City; a daughter-in-law Jane (Lundgren) DeBaun of Kildeer, Illinois, the wife of Robert; seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Margaret was also preceded in death by parents, a son, Robert DeBaun in 2010; a sister, Doris Emerson.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 9, 2017 at First United Methodist Church in Osage City. Family will receive friends an hour before service. Burial to follow service at Bushong Cemetery, Bushong, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Kanas 4-H Foundation or Osage City United Methodist Church and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth, Osage City, KS 66523. Condolences may by expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.