Margaret Susan (Stanbro) Thomson

Margaret Susan (Stanbro) Thomson Margaret Susan Thomson, 70, of Wadsworth, IL, passed away on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at Highland Park Hospital after a long illness. She was born Margaret Susan Stanbro to DeMeril (Hafer) and William (Bill) Stanbro on May 3, 1945 in Herkimer, NY.  She was salutatorian of the Ridgedale High School Class of 1963 and attended The Ohio State University. She was married to James Keneth Thomson on June 17, 1968 at Epworth United Methodist Church in Marion, OH. After she and her husband moved to Illinois, Sue worked for several years as a librarian in the Zion Benton School District after receiving her BA in Library Science from Barat College in Lake Forest. She is remembered as being available to help out at her children’s schools at every opportunity, including acting as room mother, chaperoning field trips, and helping out with holiday celebrations during their elementary years. Ultimately, this passion led to her serving on the Newport Township School Board. Sue was also very active in the arts, singing for many years in the Waukegan Symphony Chorus and in the choir at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest. One of her other passions was cooking, and she was active for many years with her husband in a local gourmet club. She also donated her cooking skills for various fundraising events over the years. Sue is best remembered for her volunteering activities—from working with a youth group as they negotiated their high school years and volunteering at the Missions Possible Bookstore, to coordinating music at her church and working on numerous fundraising committees. She is survived by her husband, Ken, and three children: daughters Sarah (Bob) Stockman of Hastings, MN (grandchildren Nate and Marissa); Amanda (Steven) Urizar of Gurnee, IL (grandchildren James, Isabel, and Kaitlyn); and son Brian Thomson of Wadsworth, IL. She is also survived by her brother David (Kathi) Stanbro of Northfield, NJ; her sister Sarah (Chris) Ortman of Westerville, OH; plus cousins, nieces, great nieces, a great nephew and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, DeMeril Stanbro, who taught vocal music in the Ridgedale School District, and Bill Stanbro, a long-time journalist and editor at The Marion Star. Visitation will be at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 from 5-8 p.m. A celebration of life will take place at Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 East Westminster Rd., Lake Forest, IL at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23. Memorial contributions in Sue’s name may be made to the choir at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest.