Obituary of Margaret Ann Curry

Margaret Ann “Maggie” (Svatoš) Curry, was born to Bob and Marie (Villhauer) Svatoš on April 5, 1953. She passed on December 5, 2023, after a courageous battle with an unexpected illness.

She was the third born of four kids. Maggie was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend.

Maggie married Tom Curry on November 11, 1972, at St. Mary’s Church in Oxford, Iowa. In 1977, they moved to Muscatine where they have lived since. Maggie had various jobs in Muscatine, including as a Receptionist at Schweitzer Real Estate, Customer Representative at Heritage Cablevision (Muscatine Cablevision), and Secretary at Muscatine Chamber of Commerce. Not only was she active in her professional life, she helped organize Great River Days in Muscatine, and Muscatine Soccer Club events, like the state tournaments and college showcases.

She finally arrived at her life’s work at the Muscatine Center for Social Action (MCSA). She worked at MCSA for 21 years, first as Housing Coordinator, eventually becoming the Executive Director. During her tenure, she served thousands of families in need, helping to bring in domestic violence services, a free dental clinic, a free vision clinic, a free medical clinic, as well as supporting Loaves and Fishes food pantry. Maggie loved her job and helping people. She became a respected member of the community for her work to support families in need. In 2011, Tom joined her at MCSA to help keep building operations in order and they worked together until they both retired in 2017.

Upon retirement, she didn’t slow down. Maggie was president of Fruitland Lions Club, and worked to support events for the community. To satisfy her need for community, she took a part-time position at Hy-Vee as a cashier. Maggie was also the co-chair of the Island United Methodist Church. Maggie loved to bake, especially cookies with her cousins for Christmas and Easter. She loved baking traditional Czech pastries, including kolaches, rohliky, and houska.  She was also ⅓ of the Champions of the Universe in Euchre, whose ascension was unsuspected, but fairly won with daring bids like never seen before.

Maggie lived most of her life in Muscatine with her husband, Tom, and their family. She had three children, Chad (Julia Brenner) Curry and grandkids Thomas and Ellis, Callie (Will) Valet and grandkids, Isabelle, Brandon, and Gabrielle, and Brian (Jenny) Curry and grandkids Ethan and Emma. She also had her furbaby Maltese companion, Buddy, and prior to that, Peanut.  She had three siblings: Rick (Gayle) Svatos, Pam Svatos (deceased), and Tim (Becky) Svatos. Our thoughts are with her special friends, Wayne and Judy Shoultz, Joyce Villhauer, Cheryl Estabrook, and Sister Irma Ries.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Pam, mother, Marie, and father, Bob, and grandson, Elijah Valet.

Funeral Services will be held at 11am Monday, December 11, 2023, at the St. Mary’s Auditorium in Oxford, Iowa (133 East Main Street) with burial taking place at the Oxford Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Sunday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service (2720 Muscatine Avenue, Iowa City). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Maggie’s name to the Island United Methodist Church @ 2598 Stewart Road, Muscatine, IA 52761. To share a memory, thought or condolence with her family please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

To honor Maggie’s memory, smile at someone you don’t know, and perform an act of kindness for a stranger. Maggie’s email signature typifies how she saw each person: “You are kind, you are smart, you are important.”

"A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again." ~ Maya Angelou