Margareta "Peggy Lou" (Smith) Sudbrink

Margareta (Peggy Lou) Smith Sudbrink passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at the age of 91 after a valiant fight with dementia at the Edgemere Senior Living Center in Dallas, TX.

Peggy was born in Urbana, IL on January 21, 1928 to Glenn and Louise Koehm Smith. Shortly after Peggy’s birth they moved to her beloved hometown of Greenfield, Illinois. Glenn and Louise were farmers and Peggy enjoyed tending to the farm animals, except the roosters, and riding her horse “Miss Ilene” to her one room schoolhouse and back everyday.

As a young child, Peggy sang in the Greenfield United Methodist’s church choir and showed animals with the 4-H in Greene County. Later, she attended MacMurray College for Women in Jacksonville, IL where she earned an AB Degree. Her first formal job was working for MacMurray College in their admissions office encouraging other women to further their educational and career goals.

On September 6, 1953, Peggy Lou Smith was married to Robert Wood Sudbrink and moved to Beardstown, IL. They raised two children, Craig and Kyle. Peggy became actively involved in the PTO and enjoyed hosting the weekly bridge club and other social events in her home. The Sudbrink family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1968.

After settling the kids into school, Peggy dove headfirst into civic involvement. She fully believed that “one should give of one’s time and effort in the community that one lives.” She served as President of the Gold Circle of Nova Southeastern University, and President of the University of Miami Women’s Guild of Broward County. Peggy was a member of and served on the boards of Royal Dames of Cancer Research, Broward

Chapter of Freedom Foundation at Valley Forge, the Auxiliary of Henderson Mental Health Center, The Fort Lauderdale Philharmonic Society, the Light Brigade, and Christ Church in Ft Lauderdale. She also was a member of Florida Cystic Fibrosis, Inc; Hospice One Hundred, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. In addition, she served on the Board of Trustees of MacMurray College and on the Board of Trustees of the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art.

Nothing pleased Peggy more than a wonderful meal with friends and family discussing current events, recent travels, or her favorite sports team, the Miami Dolphins. She loved to regale people with stories of her world travels over a glass of wine and of course, a decadent chocolate dessert.

Peggy was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Taylor Sudbrink; her father, Glenn Smith; her mother, Louise Koehm Smith; and numerous treasured Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins from Greenfield.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Craig and Leigh Sudbrink of Greensboro, NC; David and Kyle Hunt of Dallas, TX. She is the cherished grandmother of Stephanie, Dave, Greg, and Tyler and the great grandmother of Riley and Grayson.

A graveside service will be held on June 13th at the Oak Wood Cemetery north of Greenfield at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to MacMurray College in her memory would be greatly appreciated by her family. MacMurray College, 447 E College Ave, Jacksonville, IL 62650.

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