Margaret Dayhoff
Margaret Dayhoff
Margaret Dayhoff
February 17, 1931 – February 17, 2015
University Park
Margaret Dayhoff, 84, of University Park, died Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. She was born Tuesday, February 17, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Charles and Violet Fletcher Stark. Margaret graduated from the Bad Axe, Michigan, High School as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1949. She attended Jr. College at Spring Arbor, Michigan, and then Greenville College in Illinois, attaining her bachelor’s degree in education. Years later she received her master’s in education at Truman State in Missouri. Immediately following graduation from Greenville College, Margaret moved to South Africa to teach and work on the mission field. On September 11, 1954, Margaret was united in marriage to Reverend Paul Dayhoff in South Africa. Together they served as missionaries and theological educators for the Church of the Nazarene in South Africa for 40 years before retiring to University Park in 1993. Margaret was a member of the Gateway Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa. She enjoyed reading and puzzles, especially Sudoku puzzles. She had a special place in her heart for youth and was involved in many youth activities with her church.
Her family includes her husband of over 60 years: Dr. Paul Dayhoff of University Park; three daughters: Paula (& Reverend H. Mark) Else of Omaha, Nebraska, Pat Barnes of Bakersfield, California, and Elizabeth (& Dayrel) Gates of Pella; a son: James (& Christy) Dayhoff of San Diego, California; 8 grandchildren: Sherri (& Blaze) Criqui, Rachael Barnes, Anthony (& Jeanna) Else, Becky (& Lee) Williams, Emily Gates, Madalyn Gates, Hannah Dayhoff and Nicholas Dayhoff; 6 great grandchildren: Abigail, Alexander, Jackson, and James Else and Parker and Hailey Criqui; and a sister: Elizabeth (& Dr. John) Taylor of Dayton, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a son-in-law: Ron Barnes.
Funeral services will be held Friday, February 20, 2015 at 10 A.M. at the Gateway Church of the Nazarene. Visitation will begin Thursday, February 19, 2015 after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa and the family will be present at the funeral chapel Thursday from 5 – 7 P.M. to greet friends and relatives. As was her wish, Margaret’s body will be cremated following the service and burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to “Dayhoff Theology Chair” (fund) for Africa Nazarene Theological College in Johannesburg.
