Obituary of Margaret McCarthy

Margaret (“Peg”) McCarthy, 96, passed away April 22, 2018 at home in Cocoa Beach, Florida surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 21, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the seventh of nine children of Johanna and John Spruit. She was preceded in death by her husband Jeremiah (“Mac”), her daughter Cecilia (Rohloff) and eight siblings. Margaret “Peg” (Spruit) grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended Catholic Central High School, graduating in 1937. She was among the first women to enlist in the Marine Corps in 1943. She served as a radio operator at Parris Island, SC, where she met and married Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremiah McCarthy on April 10, 1944 in the very first all-Marine wedding at that facility. She was discharged from the Marines in July, 1944. Mrs. McCarthy’s Marine uniform is currently on display at the Veterans Museum in Merritt Island, FL. With Mac serving first in the U.S. Marines and later in the U.S. Army (a “maverick” officer), Peg and Mac lived in many places during their 59-year marriage; including Germany, Japan, Colorado, Kansas, (Grand Rapids) Michigan and (Davenport) Iowa before retiring to their beachfront condo in Cocoa Beach in 1984. Peg was a member of Our Savior Catholic Church in Cocoa Beach where she served as a volunteer in many capacities. Peg is survived by daughter, Kathleen (Jon) Walgren of Birmingham, Michigan, sons, Michael McCarthy of Boise, Idaho and Denis (Lynne) McCarthy of Lapeer, Michigan, grandchildren, Kathleen Rohloff, Jeanene Rohloff, Laura Simmons, Maureen Galle, Colleen Vanstee, Gustav Walgren, Michael Rohloff, Justin McCarthy and Caley McCarthy and twenty great grandchildren. Peg was a devoted friend and possessed an infectious joy for life. She often had a joke or story to tell. She loved to entertain and often organized impromptu social events. Peg was loved by all who knew her. Visitation will be held at Our Savior Catholic Church, Cocoa Beach, FL on Friday, April 27th from 6pm to 7pm. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church on Saturday, April 28th at 1pm. A commitment service will be held at a later date in the Memorial Garden of the church. Memorial contributions may be made to: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Holy Family Convent Retirement Fund 2409 S. Alverno Rd Manitowoc, WI 54220 –Or to: Genesis House, PO. Box 2044, Melbourne, FL 32902 –Or to: Our Savior Church, 5301 N. Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931