Margaret Eleanor Gesell, 80, passed away March 22, 2015 in Edmonds, Washington.Margaret was born on July 5, 1934 to Wilhelm and Olga Zech in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Margaret grew up the youngest in her family in Winnipeg. She was baptized, confirmed and married in The Church of the Cross, and graduated from Daniel McIntyre High School.
In 1952, she met the love of her life, Arnold Gesell, outside the town of Whitemouth, Manitoba. They married on September 1, 1956. The couple started a journey west to finally settle in Seattle, Washington, USA, after Arnold took a position with the Boeing Company in 1958. They raised their family of three children: Gregory, Brent, and Lisa, in Bellevue, Washington and attended Cross of Christ Lutheran Church. 
Margaret was known be many and most as Marge. She was a homemaker while her children were young and then managed a Beauty and Barber Supply in Bellevue for over ten years. She loved to bake, with cookies being her specialty. Favorites included Sugarcrisps, Peanut Blossoms, Pecan Tarts, Macaroons and Bourbon Balls.
Margaret also loved spending time with her grandchildren, Derrick and Stacie. She would go to every one of their events, including all their soccer games to root them on.
Several times a year, the couple would travel back to Canada and also down to California to visit family. Family was the most important element of life to Margaret. She planned and attended the first family reunion in 1995 on the Oregon Coast. Several more reunions followed every few years, as well as other major family events. She came to be considered by the entire family as the ‘glue’ that bound it all together. Major family trips included Hawaii, Mexico, Disneyworld in Florida, an Alaskan Cruise, New England and Pennsylvania, and Virginia. She also went to Europe to visit her father and other family in Germany.
She was a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, great aunt, great great aunt, grandma, and great great great aunt.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; brother Eric and sisters Marda Balyk (Tim), Elfriede, Ruth Oswald, and Jocelyn; and by her daughter Lisa. She is survived by Arnold, her husband of 58 years; sons Gregory (Therese) and Brent (Scott); and grandchildren Derrick and Stacie. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law Erwin Gesell (Joyce) and Fred Oswald; sister-in-law Mardie Zech; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Manor Care in Lynnwood and to the caring team at Swedish Edmonds.
We grieve her loss but we thank God for her life and her love for others. We rejoice that she is at peace in the company of her family and in the love of the Lord. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cross of Christ Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held on April 11, 2015 at 7:00pm at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 411 156th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98007.