Margaret Baron went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 21, 2018. Born April 1, 1930 in Lynden, she passed away peacefully at home on Wiser Lake near Lynden. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Sid Baron.
Margaret was born to Ray and Henrietta (Zwaanstra) Tjoelker and raised on dairy farms in the Everson and Custer areas. The oldest of six children, she is survived by sister Jean Kortus and brothers Ray (Gert) Tjoelker Jr. and Art (Phyllis) Tjoelker. Sid and Margaret raised six children: Jim (Laurie) Baron, Gerald (Lynne) Baron, Ronald (Natalie) Baron, Alan (Debby) Baron, Kaye Baron and Julie (Grant) Kroontje. Their family included 14 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Adrianna Tjoelker and Shirley Polinder, and brothers-in-law Gerald Polinder and Tony Kortus.
Her extended family and her many friends and relatives would agree that she set the standard for warm, gracious hospitality hosting countless gatherings. She welcomed anyone and everyone in almost any circumstances and made them feel perfectly at home. She was outgoing, with a ready smile and laugh, and took great pride in her family with the friends she walked with and enjoyed coffee and lunch with for years.
She was exceptionally close with her brothers and sisters and their families and enjoyed nearly endless conversations in person or by phone. Her desire to spend time with her family was never fully satisfied despite nearly continual visits. Favorite family memories include participation in many of the more than 50 cruises enjoyed by Sid and Margaret. In addition to raising her children, she was a strong supporter of her husband’s many business ventures, serving as bookkeeper for a number of years. In later years she emerged as an organization leader and fundraiser in her own right, leading the formation of New Way Ministries in Lynden and serving as chief fundraiser.
She was well known in the community for her sense of humor including her standup comedy “gig” at the Lynden Community Center known as “Merriment with Margaret.” This routine came to an end as her Alzheimer’s condition took more and more of her memory, but this loss did not prevent her from laughing, from enjoying all visitors and from spending the last years in peace and contentment.
Her faith was the center of her life and never far from her thoughts or words. Her greatest gift to her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was the commitment of living that faith, captured in her oft repeated words: “‘Tis one life, will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” She was a lifetime member of the Christian Reformed Church, most recently at Second Christian Reformed.
Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, in Gillies Funeral Home of Lynden. A private burial service will be followed by a memorial service in North County Christ the King Church of Lynden at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 28. Community celebration of her life will follow the service at the church at 3:30 p.m.
Memorials in honor of Margaret Baron may be made to New Way Ministries, c/o Christian Hope Association, 205 South B.C. Ave. Suite 117, Lynden, WA 98264.
You are invited to share your memories and condolences in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
