Margaret "Peg" Truckenbrod, 79, of Mendota passed away July 31, 2016, in Stonecroft Village, Mendota surrounded by her family.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Holy Cross Church, Mendota with the Rev. Joel Phelps officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.

Mrs. Truckenbrod was born Nov. 6, 1936, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to John and Mary (Kelso) Booth. She attended Mendota High School where she graduated in 1954, and not long after was united in marriage to Curt Truckenbrod on Oct. 13, 1956 in Mendota.

Curt and Peg began to build their family right away, which went on to include six boys and one girl. In 1967, she and Curt took over the Mendota Food Center from Curt's father, where Peg worked and maintained the books. During all of this Peg found time to become one of the first Emergency Medical Technicians in La Salle County, and she and Curt were instrumental in starting the first ambulance service in Mendota.

Peg also was elected as an alderman for the city of Mendota. During her life she was a member of the Mendota Junior Women's Club, Mendota Elks Club, Mendota Community Ambulance Service, Mendota Area Senior Services, and Holy Cross Catholic Church. Her strong faith and ties to the church is something she maintained throughout her life.

In 1989, after her children were all grown and starting families of their own, Peg began a new chapter in her life by graduating from Illinois Valley Community College with a nursing degree. She graduated in 1991, and was hired to work at Mendota Community Hospital up until retirement. In 1995, Peg and Curt sold the grocery store and she retired from nursing. They built a new home and moved to the Chippewa Flowage in Hayward, Wis. to enjoy their golden years along with their love of fishing and the outdoors. After the passing of her husband, Curt in 2000 Peg returned to Mendota.

She stayed active and began taking trips and cruises with her friends which she always enjoyed. She also enjoyed playing cards, bird watching, and above all, making people laugh. She will be strongly remembered for her quick wit and sense of humor. But Peg always found that her greatest joy came from her grandchildren, of which there are many. Peg would always welcome a visit from any one of her grandkids, and they all made time for her as much as they could throughout the years. Peg's grandkids cherished her as much as she cherished them.

Peg is survived by six children, Dave (Dawn) Truckenbrod, Dick (Mary) Truckenbrod, and Donald (Peggy) Truckenbrod, all of Omaha, Neb., Douglas Truckenbrod of Seabrook, Texas., Dennis (Laura) Truckenbrod of Mendota, and Amy (Marvin) Jackson of Naperville; 14 grandchildren, Miles, Amber (James), Tiffany (Tony), Ashley, Jason (Justine), Chelsi, Danielle, Aaron (Jenna), Scott, Rachel (John), Andrew, Kyle (Kayla), Megan and Madison; two step-grandchildren, Nick and Brad; 11 great-grand children; two sisters, Cindy (Joe) Beetz and Kathy Montavon; and multiple nieces and nephews.
Peg was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2000; son, Daniel Truckenbrod; and two sisters, Betty and Patty.

Memorials may be directed to Holy Cross Church or Mendota Ambulance.