Margaret Ann Shatek

Margaret Ann Shatek age 88 of Elma, IA, died Thursday, July 14, 2026, at Evans Senior Living Community in Cresco, IA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Rev. Paul Baldwin officiating the Mass. Interment will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery.

Friends are invited to greet the family from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Elma, where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary. Visitation continues one hour before the Mass at the church in Lourdes on Saturday.

Margaret Ann Shatek, age 88, of Elma, Iowa, passed away on July 14, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, hard work, creativity, and devotion to family.

Margaret was born on November 8, 1937, in Chester, IA, the daughter of David and Mae (Biwer) Lohuis, and grew up with the values that would guide her throughout her life. She attended Elma Immaculate Conception Catholic School and graduated in 1955. Her education, along with the example of her family and faith, helped shape the strong and dependable woman she became. Margaret carried herself with quiet determination and a spirit that was always ready to help, whether at home, on the farm, or in the community.

On December 31, 1960, Margaret was united in marriage to John Shatek at the Immaculate Conception Church in Elma. Together, they built a life rooted in love, faith, and hard work. Their marriage was blessed with years of companionship and shared purpose. In 1964, the family began farming, and Margaret was an essential part of that life. She helped on the farm and could often be found helping run equipment, working side by side with John to build and maintain the family operation. She was never one to sit still for long, and she took pride in getting things done.

Margaret and John also shared a love of woodworking and farming that became a meaningful part of their lives. Through their custom woodworking business, Shatek Wood Chalet, Margaret helped create beautiful and practical pieces that reflected her talent and care. She attended craft shows throughout Northeast Iowa and surrounding states, where her work was admired by many. Her creativity was matched by her skill and her strong work ethic, and she found satisfaction in making something lasting with her own hands.

Those who knew Margaret will remember her as faith-filled, creative, and handy. She was an excellent cook and especially loved making bread, which became one of the many ways she cared for those around her. Her home was a place of warmth, hard work, and welcome. Margaret was also very involved at Our Lady of Lourdes, where her faith remained an important part of her life. She lived with a deep sense of responsibility and purpose, always willing to lend a hand and always focused on what needed to be done.

Margaret’s life was one of steadfast love, honest labor, and unwavering faith. She leaves behind a family that will remember her for her strong hands, her generous spirit, her creativity, and the many ways she made life better for those she loved. Her legacy lives on in the family she helped raise, the work she completed, and the values she passed down through the years.

Margaret is survived by her husband, John Shatek of Elma, IA; her son, Kyle (Fawn) Shatek of Anamosa, IA; her daughter, Cherie Stamper of Cresco, IA; her grandchildren, Kurtis Shatek, Alyssa (Robert) Maynard, Timothy (Cali) Fotheringham Jr., and Chelsea (Austin) Dvorak; and her great-grandchildren, Paisley, Trinity, and Charlotte Fotheringham, Myah and Rynlea Dvorak, and Rowan Maynard; her brother, Robert Lohuis of McIntire, IA; her sisters, Mary (John) Havlik of Center Point, IA, and Sharon (William) Zweibohmer of Elma, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Karl Shatek; one sister, Pat (David) Pospichal; one sister-in-law, Suzanne Lohuis; and one son-in-law, Bob Stamper. These losses were carried with the same quiet strength that Margaret showed throughout her life, and her family now takes comfort in knowing she is reunited with those who went before her.