Margaret Marie (Sprague) Sipkema, age 84 of Moline, died Monday, May 9.
Margaret was a proud Gun Lake Tribal Elder. She was politically active in the Democratic Party in Allegan County for many years. She was a former union representative for the UAW Local 206, was the first Tribal Chairwoman for the Huron Band Pottawatomi, and sat on the Board for the Michigan Commission on Indian Affairs. Margaret was a dedicated Lifelong Member of the Bradley Indian Mission Church as a treasurer and volunteer.
She bowled for 35 years on the Harding’s Market team, enjoyed playing softball and golf and was an active and competitive card player.
Margaret will be lovingly missed and remembered by her husband of 47 years, Edward Sipkema; her children: Angela Thunderhawk, Robert Olivarri (Marsha), Phyllis (Monte) Davis, Tracy Gallacher, and Brenda Kirkpatrick; her grandchildren: Mark Farley, David Farley, Jason Morgan, Jeff Dowdy, Henry Thunderhawk, and Monte Davis, Jr.; 17 great-grandchildren; her brother David K. Sprague and her sister Ardis Badger; many nieces and nephews; and special caregiver Patty Zerbe.
She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Rose Sprague, sisters, Anna Mae Chelebana, Esther Sprague; brothers, Amos, Phil, Henry, Roger, Frank and Joe Sprague.
Friends may gather with her family from2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11, at Kubiak-Cook Funeral Services, Wayland. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 12, at the funeral home. Interment at Bradley Indian Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Margaret may be made to Bradley Indian Mission Building Fund.
