Anyone that knew Peggie, knew she wasn't afraid to say what she thought. She rarely needed to get angry to do it either. She was just matter of fact. Right? There was no doubt regarding her position on the subject.

Peggie was a pioneer in an era where men were automatically in charge. She faced a lot of adversity. Direct, "take-charge" men were praised...while a strong, attractive, capable woman was often considered a you-know-what. Yet Peggie didn't "hide her light" or let that stop her.

She was determined that no one, and certainly no man, was going to control her destiny. So at 18 she earned her Bachelor's degree and at 20 her Masters. She began teaching at 18 - barely older than some of her students.

And though her marriage ended a few years later, leaving Peggie a single mother with three children, a full-time job and coaching obligations, she met each challenge with determination and grit. There were times when each child had to put their shoe in the circle and the one with the worst shoes got the new ones that month. There weren't a lot of frills, but there was always enough. The refrigerator was full - even with teenage boys that ate like horses. She taught us that we were no worse than anyone else, and no better either. And though she must have been so stressed, I don't ever remember her complaining about it.

That was Peggie - never afraid of hard work - always glad to lend a hand - always attending to the needs of others before her own.

By the time she retired from teaching, she had transcended her roots. Born during the great depression, they sometimes had little to eat for the day. Peggie spent wisely, saved up enough to build build and sell a couple houses, hired a wise and loyal financial manager, and with her guidance, made strong investments. Peggie was successful, secure and humble - a true self-made woman and success story.

     My family met Peggie when she and Don moved to Bachelor Valley. As so many testified to, each of us were remembered at every birthday and special occasion. Peggie's Persimmon bread would mysteriously arrive every Christmas.
     Peggie was genuinely interested in what we were doing and we kept up mostly by the walk byes. As my mother says "Peggy would rarely come in for coffee but she would invite me in for coffee and we had conversations sitting at her table. I will miss her."  My children took animals to the Lake County Fair when they were involved in 4-H. Peggy and Don were very helpful with advice for the sheep. One year we had a situation where my youngest daughter needed help getting her lamb sheered. It was late and I called Peggy. She said bring the lamb over and I will get some coffee down Don. They saved the day!
     Thank you for sharing Peggie's life story. An incredible person that will surely be missed.

Peggy was my neighbor just down Bachelor Valley Road at Witter Springs.  When we first moved into our house there in 1987 we had the 4 walnut trees in the front yard removed because of my wife Kathy's intense and severe allergy to the pollen from these trees, but missed having access to the nuts.  For many years I just gleaned the nuts I could find along the road going to waste from other trees.  Peggy had several trees that were good producers, especially the big one by her barn, but had no apparent interest in picking them up and cracking them herself, as she told me having spent many hours of her childhood getting her hands stained dark from handling the husks.  Eventually I got around to asking her permission to gather the nuts from her trees and received a most hearty invitation to take all I wanted.

For several years her trees provided most of the walnuts I picked up, cracked, and preserved in Mason jars after toasting in the oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour.  The nuts made great gifts and people began to sort of expect they would get some from me at Christmas, but they were really from Peggy.  Walnut pie became my standard contribution to potlucks, again, all credit due to Peggy's generosity.

Peggy knew I was the local high school biology teacher and always on the lookout for interesting specimens to show my students, so one day was not surprised to get a call from her to come on over and collect an especially fat black widow spider she had found in her pantry. 

With all her friendly contacts in the community, she was the first neighbor I called when I was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2017, knowing she would spread the word that I would not be home for a few weeks while being treated in Santa Rosa.  Peggy recruited me into the local chapter of the California Retired Teachers Association, of which she was membership chair, and drove me to a few of the meetings before I had to stop attending in order to substitute teach.  I think everyone of the neighbors here at Witter Springs misses her direct, sometimes even blunt, manner and certainly her outgoing helpfulness in getting through rough times.

One day a neighbor and friend of Peggie's burst into our house. Her face was bruised and bloody. Her angry 6'5" 250+ lb (and unfortunately) abusive hulk of a husband was close on her heels. 5 foot 5 inch Peggie didn't hesitate. She met him at the front door nose to nose. "Go ahead. Hit me too," she said, "I'll not only send you to jail, I'll sue you for everything you own. And if you EVER touch my friend again, you won't have to worry if she'll press charges, because I will." He knew she meant it. Shoulders slumped, he turned and sulked home in defeat. The neighbor divorced him shortly thereafter. That was Peggie. Always there for a friend whenever they might really need one.

Peggie was a friend of my grandmother, Shirlee Jordan .  I have never met Peggie however, she has a special place in my heart.  I have always recieved a Birthday card, from her.  I find it amazing that a friend of my grandma would take the time to send me (a person they never met) a card, faithfully for 43 years.  WOW!  Yesterday when I checked the mail, and saw the envelope addressed to my family with Peggie's return label but it wasn't her handwriting, I knew, "oh boy this isn't good."  Thank you to her family for sharing her life story and this website with me.  I have enjoyed reading the stories about her, and now it makes sense why I have recieved the cards over the years.  Peggie, I look forward to the day we meet, and I can hug you and thank you myself.  

This is addressed to Mrs. Rombach's family: 
Beginning of junior year, MCHS, was my first ever experience with gym.  White uniform (don't remember yellow socks Melodie) marching in some sort of sequence with different turns was difficult enough. There was no gentle hand-holding orientation.  Remember most of the class had been together since freshman year so knew what to do or so it seemed. Your Mother was, indeed, no nonsense and scared me. That straight forward look meant MOVE NOW!  Not being an athletic type was intimidating enough.  My guess is that I got in the right place at the right time but, believe me, it was torture.  My book of excuses was pretty darn creative because I did get out of gym class fairly often.  That being said, I survived.   It was always wonderful to see your Mom at all of our reunions.  She was always friendly and seemed to know everyone.  My hope was that she never remembered me.  If she did or didn't, I'll never know.  This is a beautiful tribute to your Mother, a brave and strong woman way before her time. I am in awe of her raising three children as a single Mom and to always being true to herself.  She was indeed a pioneer.  It's apparent that Mrs. R.  had a positive impact on many.  I wish is that I knew her better.  My sympathy to her family.  May she rest in peace.