Margarete (Raab) Ransom, 96 of Grand Rapids, who died Thursday, worked in the office of Kessler Baby Clothing in Wayland just after World War II.

Margarete was born and raised in Leipzig, Germany and met Wilbur (Bill) Raab, an American soldier, and they were married in 1948. The family the moved to Grand Rapids in 1954 and she became a stay at home mother and provided child care for other working moms.

Bill passed away in 1973. Margarete ran the business along with her children until she sold it four years later. In June of 1976 she married Daniel Ransom whom she met at the VFW Creston Post in Grand Rapids. They moved to Comstock Park, where they lived for 25 years. Daniel passed away in June 1999. Margarete was a lifetime member of the VFW Creston post and DAV Auxiliary in Grand Rapids.

Margarete is survived by her children, Terry (DeAnn) Raab, Janet (David) Cross; seven grandchildren; twenty-three great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren; niece, Monica Schmidt; great niece, Uli Schmidt; and very special friend Debbie Miller-Nieto.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Wilbur Raab and Daniel Ransom; and brother, Hans Schmidt.

There will be a time of visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at Pederson Funeral Home, 127 N. Monroe St. NE, Rockford. The funeral will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 1 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or online at https://www.dav.org