Marjorie “Margie” (Neller) Peterson Greenwald

 

Born:  June 6, 1905 in Appleton, Wisconsin

Died: September 21, 2000, residing in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

Place of burial:  Perry Cemetery, Perry Lutheran Church, Dane County, Wisconsin.

 

1st Spouse:     Alton Theodore Peterson, m. abt. 5/31/30, died tragically.  (b. 1905, d. 1935.)

Children:         Robert Alton Peterson, m. Kay Mueller, an opera singer, and lives in Milan, Italy.

Kristin “Krisy” Turi (Peterson) Brue (m. James A. Brue in 1953, they have 3 children.)

                       

 

2nd Spouse:   Curtis Greenwald (m. abt 1948)

Children:         John Curtis Greenwald (m. Glenna Griffon.)

 

 

Father’s name:          John Henry Neller                  Birth place:    

Mother’s name:         Ina Frances (Briggs) Neller  Birth place: Appleton, Wisconsin

Siblings:         Donald George Neller

                        James Locke Neller

                        Robert John Neller

                        Richard Karl Neller

 

Graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin then the Chicago Art Institute.

   In 1988 Marjorie was honored as Mt. Horeb’s Senior Artist and had a display in Hoffs Mall.

 

According to niece, Patricia Deardorf, “Marjorie is, in fact, the artist who rendered the family tree.   She worked hand in hand with a relative who did a great deal of the research necessary to the tree…their goal was to trace the Briggs family lineage from the point of the Mayflower landing.”  Patricia goes on to say that Marjorie’s daughter Krisy has all the family documents and information behind the research.  Apparently the one I have is not the final version, but rather an earlier rendition that does not include all the branches of the Nellers.  Krisy adds, “Mom (Marjorie Neller) drew the tree we have and has this note on the bottom right, ‘Made for Ina Briggs Neller---Genealogy by Caroline Briggs Mathie---Marjorie Neller Peterson, Artist  1935.’  After that [Adding a Neller branch about 1939.] she must have framed it, as no other names were added.”

 

Both of Marjorie’s husband are also buried at the Perry Cemetery in Dane County, Wisconsin.

Obituary: Marjorie (Neller) Greenwald

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on September 22, 2000; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)

MOUNT HOREB [Wisconsin] - Marjorie Greenwald, age 95, of Mt. Horeb died on September 21, 2000, at Meriter Hospital in Madison. Marjorie Greenwald was born June 6, 1905, at Appleton, Wisconsin to John and Ina (Briggs) Neller. She was baptized at the First Congregational Church in that city. Marjorie attended Lawrence University and graduated from the Chicago Art Institute. Following graduation she taught in the art department at Madison's Central High School. On May 30, 1930, she married Alton T. Peterson and together they made their home on Willow Valley Farm near Daleyville. Two sons, Robert (Kay) Peterson of Milan, Italy and Theodore, who died at birth and one daughter, Kristin (James) Brue of this area were born to the couple. Alton died in November of 1935. Marjorie, with her two children, continued living at Willow Valley. In January of 1947 she married Curtis P. Greenwald. Marjorie and Curtis are the parents of John (Glenna) Greenwald of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1976, after the sale of the farm, the Greenwalds purchased a home on Blue View Drive in Mt. Horeb. Curtis died in 1982. Marjorie was a talented artist, avid reader, and loved to play Scrabble. She was an active member of Perry Lutheran Church and its Dorcas Circle. Other interests included the Senior Art Group and the Mt. Horeb Historical Society. Besides Alton and Curtis, her son, Theodore, and parents, Marjorie was preceded in death by three bothers, Donald, who died at four months, Richard (Virginia) Neller of Neenah, and Robert (Alvina) Neller of Appleton. Marjorie is survived by her children; three grandchildren, Bill (Diane) Brue of Stoughton, Dan (Marcia) Brue of Daleyville, and Nancy Brue (Dr. Stephen) Penaskovic of Spokane, Washington. Also surviving are six great-grandchildren, Sarah, Nathan, Laura, and James Brue, and Catherine and Amy Penaskovic; one brother, Dr. James (Patsy) Neller of San Diego, California; and a brother-in-law, Dr. James (Shirley) Greenwald of Fitchburg. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 24, 2000, at PERRY LUTHERAN CHURCH in Daleyville. Visitation from 1:00 p.m. until time of service on Sunday at Perry Lutheran Church with Pastor Jonathon Kosec officiating. A coffee hour will follow the committal service. ELLESTAD FUNERAL HOME, 500 N. 8th Street, Mt. Horeb is serving the family.

Sample of art used on a Thank You card.

 

  Infant Marjorie with Grandma Leona Dane Briggs

 

    

With Grandma Neller                        With Uncle Karl and Aunt Caroline Briggs Mathie in Mosinee, WI about 1910.

 

    

Left photo is c. 1990.  Group photo is from May of 1988 on the occasion of a Granddaughter’s wedding.  L-R are: Marjorie’s daughter Kristin “Krisy” Peterson Brue (b. 1935), son Robert Peterson (b. 1931), Marjorie, and son from second marriage John Greenwald (b. 1948).

 

Photos generously shared by Krisy Brue, Granddaughter of Ina Briggs Neller. She may be contacted at: krisbrue@mhtc.net

 

Back to the Genealogy Main Page.