Margrit (Margie) Wolf

WOLF, Margrit (Margie)
11/24/1946 - 10/13/2016
of Kalamazoo

Margrit passed away at age 69 on Thursday, October 13, 2016, peacefully under sedation, comforted with no pain or suffering. She was able to say her good-byes and "I love you's" to her loving son and family members at Bronson Hospital. Seven months prior she suffered a debilitating stroke. On Thursday, she died from complications of a pulmonary embolism. Margie was born in Lübeck, Germany to proud parents Gunter and Elsa Treptow. Margie was the eldest of three children. Her sister, who was seven years younger, was Rosemarie (Rosie) Treptow. She also had a middle brother Klaus Dieter Treptow, who died after falling through ice on a frozen pond at age two and a half. Margie sorely missed him the rest of her life. She often reminisced of her time growing up near the shore of the Baltic Sea and what life was like in a post-WWII Germany. The family had to make do with food shortages in a devastated German economy. Gunter, Elsa, Margrit and Rosie emigrated to the United States on July 10h, 1962 and later became naturalized citizens. They moved to Chicago, Illinois where Margrit excelled in her last few years of high school. Being an immigrant proved to be a struggle for her at times. There were still some post WWII biases against Germans in the minds of her peers and their parents, some of whom fought Germans in the war. She often had to shrug off discrimination and verbal abuse as a result of her German heritage. Margie often said "Never give up" which is how she lived her life. Perseverance through positive attitude and determination became her motto. Margie was naturally artistic and a people person. She was drawn to beauty school after high school, finishing top of her class and becoming a licensed beautician in the State of Illinois. She was also an amazing cook, having learned the craft from her mother. Margie took it to the next level with her creative and artistic nature further developing traditional German dishes but with a Margie twist. Although successful in the beauty industry, she and her first husband Jochon Ettel opened a German restaurant in what was then the German district of Chicago at 3032 N. Lincoln Ave. They called it the Metro Club. Many old Germans in and around the area today still remember Margrit and Jochon opening and running the restaurant even though the Chicago Bar Project online never attributed the restaurant to them. It was successful beyond their wildest dreams. Margie cooked and waited on tables while her husband ran the bar and entertained guests. Margie's parents also chipped in on odds and ends and helped with the cooking. Margie told her son stories about getting all their fresh bread and rolls from the German bakery next door and how they built the restaurant over the years. They later sold it to Pepo and Anne Koestenberger when Margrit and Jochon's marriage ended. Margie and her son visited the Metro Club throughout the years enjoying German cuisine and the company of Pepo and Anne until they closed the restaurant in 2003. The next phase of Margie's life found her traveling to exotic destinations in the hair industry styling for the rich and famous. She worked at posh hotels and resorts in Puerto Rico, Cancun, Reno, Nevada, and back to Berlin, Germany where she ran another successful bar business for a time. She eventually settled down after meeting the love of her life, Eberhard Wolf in Berlin, whom she married at the age of 30. They had a son, Rafael and moved back to the United States settling down in Reno, Nevada. When Eberhard later passed away, Margie moved with her young son to the Midwest and settled in the suburbs of Chicago. She worked again as a hairstylist at JC Penny in the Lakehurst Mall in Waukegan, Illinois. She also waited tables in the evenings, doing all she could to make ends meet. Never giving up, she eventually landed a job with Baxter Pharmaceuticals in the extrusion department. She worked 3rd shift for many years before making her way to the quality department. She spent many a weekend with her son fishing, camping, swimming and enjoying the Chain-O-Lakes at Smiths Float in Park in Antioch, IL. On occasion she'd winter camp with her son and sister-in-law Helga Ettel; cross country skiing, building snowmen, walking the park, and spending time walking on the frozen channels and lakes. Margie had many years of memories made at Smiths Float in Park, spring, summer, winter and fall. The fall time was one of her favorite seasons because she loved the changing colors and it was less busy. Eventually, Margie decided to open her own beauty salon in Genoa City, Wisconsin called The Elite Salon. She operated that business successfully for many years. With her new love John Paproski they also opened and operated the Elite Motel. The salon was in the lower part of the building and the upper part was the motel. Later, they added a separate bungalow called "The Chalet". The most famous person to stay at the chalet was the actress Virginia Madsen, who had a relative living in Genoa City. When she'd visit, Virginia chose to stay in the chalet because of convenience and seclusion. After John's battle with cancer ended, Margie closed the businesses and chose to semi-retire in the North Woods of Wisconsin in a place called Minocqua. She lived there for many years, doing hair and running a successful cleaning business where she cleaned rental cottages and homes. Margie enjoyed the fresh air, wilderness and nature, although winters became tougher and tougher. North woods winters could be brutal. During the warmer months she loved her garden, flowers, birds and the deer that would often visit the side porch. She loved spending time with her friends and enjoyed swimming at the Americ-Inn on a regular basis to stay in shape. After her first mini stroke she decided to move to Kalamzoo, Michigan and be closer to her son, Rafael. She continued enjoying semi-retirement but also helped her son in the office with billing, marketing and managing work tickets. She became involved in local groups like the Newcomers Club, Orchid Club, Hosta Club, and she visited the Portage Rotary on occasion. In her all too short time in Kalamazoo she made many good friends who will all miss her smiling face, positive attitude, and funny funny personality. She loved laughing, drinking tea, having a beer or shot on occasion, and the company of good friends. A special thanks to all for accepting Margie into the Kalamazoo community and making her feel more than welcome. Margie will be having a memorial service at a date to be determined later. Check the Langland Family Funeral Homes website for dates and times. Her son will be personally contacting her friends and family also with the dates and times. www.langelands.com . In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity in her name.