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Margaret (Maggie) Marie Tritsch, 99 of Hiawatha, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, February 19, 2025, at Amberwell Hiawatha.

She was born on January, 22, 1926 in Hiawatha, KS.  The daughter of Edward and Edna (Shaw, Wardin) Gaston.  She attended grade school at Janes and Central Schools. She graduated in 1945 from Hiawatha High.  While growing up, in summers, she delivered telegrams from the Hiawatha Train Depot and cracked and picked out walnut meats sold to a local candy store.  In her teens, she was employed in a ladies' apparel store in St. Louis, MO for a short time. Upon returning home, she went to work in Carpenter's Drug Store for several years where she met the love of her life, Leo Tritsch.  They were married in 1948.

Maggie was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. She was a sacristan for many years, and active in St. Ann's Altar Society. She volunteered at Hiawatha Hospital Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels.  She was a charter member of the VFW Auxiliary and received the prestigious National Guard Molly Pitcher award.  She enjoyed attending Little League and American Legion baseball games with her lawn chair right behind the fence.  She also repaired torn flags and baseball uniforms.  She participated in the Hiawatha Latch Key program.

Her hobbies included: reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, watching TV-documentaries, old sitcoms, Royals baseball, and Chiefs football

She was preceded in death by her husband Leo Tritsch in 1991, her parents, brother Charles, sisters Eva Phillips & Opal Smith and stepfather Jim Gaston and stepsister Marie Gaston Lear.

Survivors include nine children:  Cathy (Jim) Windmeyer, Highland, KS.  Tom (Cindy) Tritsch, Shawnee, KS.  Dan (Mary) Tritsch, Topeka, KS.  John Tritsch (Sara) Hiawatha, KS.  Brian (Linda) Tritsch, Topeka, KS.  Kevin (Beverly) Tritsch, Olathe, KS.  Mary (Ken) Dudzik, Omaha, NE.  Dave (Nikki) Tritsch, Lees Summit, MO. Pat (Shannon) Tritsch, Liberty, MO.

21 Grand Children; 25 Great Grand Children.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anns Catholic Church, Hiawatha, at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1.  Father Michael Kantanka and Father Daniel Gardner will officiate.  Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.

Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home after 10 a.m. Friday where the Parish Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. followed by the family visiting with friends until 8 .p.m.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Anns Church or Brown County Historical Society, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

Mass will be livestreamed through www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com