Margaret Jane Anderson and Hugh Sheldon Strong

MARGARET JANE ANDERSON, daughter of CATHERINE ELIZABETH SWEET and DOUGLAS GILMORE ANDERSON, was born April 4, 1924 in Hennepin County, Minnesota,⁷⁵ and died December 12, 2017 in Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan.¹⁶⁸

She married HUGH SHELDON STRONG on June 22, 1946 in Grosse Pointe, Wayne, Michigan.⁴⁴³¹ He was born July 11, 1923 in Grosse Point, Wayne, Michigan,⁴⁵³² and died August 5, 2000.⁴⁵³²

• Descendant Reports
  • William Scott Descendant Report (Ancestor of Margaret J. Anderson)

• Margaret Jane Anderson was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan. ¹⁶⁸

Minneapolis Star-Journal, June 26, 1946⁵³⁵⁶

Margaret Anderson Becomes Bride at Grosse Pointe

Margaret Jane Anderson returned to Grosse Point, Mich., her former home, for her marriage to Hugh Shelldon Strong, son of the George Fraser Strongs, Grosse Pointe, on Saturday.

Her parents, the Douglas Gilmore Andersons, went to Grosse Pointe soon after their marriage but recently returned to Minneapolis to live. When Margaret Jane was to be married she decided to have the wedding there where she and the groom grew up.

Catherine Anderson was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Marion Kuechenmeister, Mary Hart Anderson, Jean Campbell and Brooks Potter.

Lawrence Fischer was best man and Robert Rousseau, Thomas Coulter, Jay Rohn, Robert Danforth and Norman Nichol ushered. A reception followed at Whittier hotel.

The bridal couple returned to Minnesota for their honeymoon, which they are spending at Lutsen on the north shore. They will got to Bethlehem, Pa., where Mr. Strong will return to Lehigh university.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are remaining in the east for a visit with friends.

Brooks Potter and her mother, Mrs. Albert Bailey Potter, motored to Grosse Pointe from Pasadena, Calif., and arrived here Tuesday to visit Mr. and Mrs. John C. Sweet, Minnetonka Beach, parents of Mrs. Potter, also grandparents of the bride. Polly Sweet, another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sweet, who teaches in Seattle, attended the wedding and returned with the Potters.

Grand Rapids Press, December 20, 2017¹⁶⁸

STRONG, MARGARET A. Margaret (Peggy) Jane Anderson Strong died on December 12, 2017 at the age of 93 of congestive heart failure, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI, after a full and satisfying life. Peggy was a celebrated art aficionado, who brought sophistication, style, intelligence, and drive to all of her endeavors. Born in Minneapolis, MN in 1924, Peggy grew up in Grosse Pointe, MI, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Hugh Sheldon (Shel) Strong. Peggy attended Smith College and graduated from the University of Michigan. Soon after they were married, Peggy and Shel moved to Philadelphia's Main Line, when Shel was hired by then pharmaceutical giant Smith, Kline and French. The couple faithfully attended Wayne Presbyterian Church. While living in Philadelphia, Peggy's love for art led her to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where she became an active member and docent for over twenty years. She was the Co-Chair of the Membership Drive, one of the founding members of the Volunteer Guides, and was a volunteer assistant to the Curator of Decorative Arts. It was here where she was given the task to organize a trip for the volunteer guides, thus planting the seed for her future business to come. In 1971, when Shel joined the Upjohn Company, the couple moved back to Michigan and first settled in Grand Rapids. There, Peggy taught courses in the History of Furniture Design and Interior Design, as well as a survey of Oriental Art, at the Kendall College of Art and Design. In addition, she gave lectures on Impressionism, sculpture and the decorative arts at Aquinas College, the Krasl Museum, the Battle Creek Art Center, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In 1975, Peggy and Shel moved to Kalamazoo, where Peggy became a member of the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, twice serving as its President, and remaining an active participant of the Kalamazoo art scene for many years. And, with great determination at 54 years old, she received her Masters in Art History from Western Michigan University. By 1981, Peggy had established her own business, Masterpiece Tours, the purpose of which was to share her love and wonder of art with others. She designed and arranged 32 trips to Europe, another one to China, and at least 23 trips to cities throughout the US. Her participants were given the opportunity to view works of art in museums as well as exclusive, private collections, all skillfully arranged by her. On one occasion, she and her group had tea with Lord and Lady Dewar of Dewar's Scotch. On another, they visited the private studio of famed mobile creator, Alexander Calder. Peggy was blessed with a great sense of humor. For years she collected cartoons from newspapers and magazines, which would eventually end up under a magnet on the side of the refrigerator. Her high energy and lively creative spirit pervaded any space and made her a desirable guest at any dinner table. Being resourceful, she could make anything beautiful, whether it was a table setting, a wrapped gift, or of course, her own home. Throughout her life, Peggy was an active volunteer for causes that were meaningful to her. In Philadelphia, she served on the board of Children's Heart Hospital, volunteered for the Philadelphia Junior League as well as the aforementioned Philadelphia Museum of Art. While living in Grand Rapids, she volunteered for the Junior League of Grand Rapids, the Blodgett Hospital Auxiliary, the Smith College Club of Western Michigan, and became President of the Newcomers Club in Grand Rapids. Once she moved to Kalamazoo, she served as the Art Chairman for the First Presbyterian Church, volunteered for the Kalamazoo Art League, serving as its President twice, and was on the Exhibitions Committee for the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. In addition to volunteering in the art world, she was also a Deacon in her church, a board member for Women in Philanthropy, and a member of the Western Michigan University Theater Guild, for which she also served as President on two occasions. Most recently she was on the Committee for Lifelong Learning at Western University. Friends and family members will remember Peggy for her many wonderful qualities, including her resourcefulness, tenacity and keen intellect. She is survived by her daughter Polly Fraser Strong Baumer and her husband, Donald Charles Baumer, her son Peter Atwell Strong, her daughter Margaret Strong Mason and her husband, Gregory Allen Mason; her beloved grandchildren Benjamin Strong Baumer and his wife, Cory Mescon Baumer, Margaret Ellen Baumer, Maxwell Alexander Mason and Bailey Jane Mason; and her dear great granddaughters, Alice Mescon Baumer and Arlo Jean Mescon Baumer. A funeral service will take place on Monday, January 22nd at 11:00 a.m. at the Kalamazoo First Presbyterian Church, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 2:00 p.m. that same day at Friendship Village, 1400 North Drake Road, in Kalamazoo. Donations may be made to The Kalamazoo Institute of Art.