Obituary: Marjorie L. Maple Beschorner Mickle

Obituary provided by Larson-Nelson Funeral Home.

Marjorie L. Maple Beschorner Mickle, age 88 of Sugar Grove, a true trail blazer, walked into Glory on Feb. 26, 2013 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was born on Aug. 25, 1924 in Waterman, the daughter of Charles and Gladys (Babcock) Maple. 

Marjorie was united in marriage in 1946, to Mr. Wilbur Beschorner, the father of her three children. She was later united in marriage, on Nov. 7, 1986, to Mr. Peter Mickle, and they spent the next 26 happy years of their lives together. 

Mrs. Mickle demonstrated extraordinary leadership on many levels. She started a Boy Scout troop at Nancy Hill Elementary School and was the first female Boy Scout troopmaster when she also formed the first parents support group when her son, Bill wanted to be a Boy Scout. She organized a 4-H club when there wasn’t one and gave Randy and Jane an opportunity to succeed and learn leadership for many years. From a young age, Bill, Randy and Jane were encouraged to excel in school with the goal of “going to college.” Her goal of all three children earning a college degree was a lofty goal for a divorced Mom in the 50s and 60s, but she succeeded. Bill, Randy and Jane additionally have all earned advanced degrees and all five of her grandchildren have college degrees and some earned advanced degrees. A trail blazed for leadership and education against all odds.

Mrs. Mickle earned her own baccalaureate degree from Aurora University in 1976 and was named Outstanding Alumni at Aurora University in 1994. She started Alpha Christian Registry in 1979 with one desk, in the living room of her home on Penn Avenue. After 25 years of employing hundreds of nurses and caring for thousands of patients, Marjorie Mickle retired at age 80. She set high standards for care and her company earned JCAHO accreditation for her many offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. A trail blazed for business and excellence.

Mrs. Mickle relied on a deep, lifelong personal relationship with God. There was no mountain too steep, nor road too long that she could not navigate in the hand of her Lord, Jesus Christ. Her example of mountain moving faith and hope was demonstrated by her quickness to pray and her firm standing on the promises of God in scripture. That legacy remains even to her grandchildren. A trail blazed for faith and steadfast hope.

Mrs. Mickle was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora.  She was also a member of the Rotary Club in Aurora, and was and an Alumni of the Copley School of Nursing. Marjorie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt who will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Peter Mickle, of Sugar Grove; her children, Randall (Janice) Beschorner, of Glen Ellyn, and Jane Eshagpoor, of Richmond, Va.; her daughter-in-law, Susan Beschorner, of Omaha, Neb.; her grandchildren, Brigitt Eshagpoor, of Wilmington, N.C., Heather (Justin) Beschorner Gross, of Chapel Hill, N.C., William F. (Jennifer) Beschorner, of Ellicott City, Md., Benjamin Peter (Ann) Eshagpoor, of Chino Hills, Calif., and Kurt (Alexandra) Beschorner, of Shorewood, Wisc.; her great-grandchildren, Lucas and Leo Beschorner, and Serena Gross; and Charlotte Nicholas; her brothers, Robert Maple, of Eureka Springs, AR, and William Maple, of Concrete, WA; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Gladys Maple; her first husband, Wilbur Arthur Beschorner; her son, William Edward Beschorner; sister, Josephine Prestegaard; and brothers, Richard Maple and Francis Maple.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at the Nash-Nelson Funeral Home, 1001 East Garfield Street in Waterman, with Pastor Jeff Moore, officiating. Interment will follow in the North Clinton Cemetery in Waterman.

Friends may visit from 2 - 6 p.m. pm Friday, March 1, 2013 at the Funeral Home in Waterman.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Homes and Crematory, www.NelsonFuneralHomes.com or  (815) 264-3362.