Obituary of Margaret Menchhofer

Margaret A. Menchhofer, 98, of Indianapolis, IN passed away on August 11, 2024. Margaret was born in Indianapolis in September of 1925 to William and Margaret (Murphy) Spaulding. On August 5, 1947 Peggy married the love of her life, John Menchhofer III and spent 53 wonderful years married. She was a supporting wife of a heroic Indianapolis firefighter. John and Peggy welcomed two wonderful children, John “Bill” and Pamela in the world. Peggy and John enjoyed traveling to Europe and across the country with each other and their children. Many of their trips included Ireland, France, Monaco, California and Arizona. Peggy loved her Irish heritage and everything that went with it. All through the house there was at least one four leaf clover or Irish decoration. She could make friends and spark a conversation with just about anyone, it must have been from kissing the Blarney Stone on their trip to Ireland. Peggy was a member of St. Christopher Church in Speedway, IN and was strong in her faith. The saint she admired the most was St. Anthony and would often recite, “Tony, Tony, look around, somethings lost and can’t be found.” And sure enough, Tony would find whatever she was looking for. Living very close to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, their home was the place to be during race events. The morning of the Indy 500, Peggy was known to play, “The 500” by The Singing Hoosiers at top volume on the record cabinet to wake everyone up at 6 AM. Many race days saw a gathering of up to 30 people eager for an exciting race. Peggy would spend all the day before prepping breakfast and all day during the race getting dinner ready for all the hungry race fans upon their walk back from the track. Peggy’s many hobbies included, ceramics, oil painting, sewing, quilting, embroidery, gardening, playing solitaire and solving the daily cryptogram puzzle in the newspaper. Margaret is preceded in death by her parents; brothers George, William, Howard and John; and daughter Pamela Cahen. She is survived by her son John “Bill” Menchhofer; granddaughters Thierry (Casey) Wykes, Brianna (Max) Menchhofer-Landry, Emily (Stacey) Hall; great grandchildren Levin Wykes, Jude Woodward, Ansel Woodward and Finnley Hall. Her memory will live on through her many other loving family members, Jeffrey Cahen, Jerri Menchhofer, Diane Menchhofer, Patrick Minnick and Christina Minnick, Macaleen Spaulding, David Spaulding.