Margaret Feige

Margaret Feige

Margaret Ellen Feige

Homicide

Margaret Ellen Feige
88 YOA
4030 N.W. First St.
Saylor Township north of Des Moines
Polk County
May 22, 2008

 

Case summary compiled by Jody Ewing

 
Margaret Feige, 88, was found dead in the early morning hours on Thursday, May 22, 2008, in the laundry room of the Saylor Township home she shared with at least two other adults. Feige had been beaten to death.

The death certificate lists the cause of death as homicide by unknown assailants.

Polk County in Iowa

Polk County in Iowa

Of Polk County’s 21 homicides in 2008, Feige’s was one of only three that remained unsolved. The other two included 31-year-old Brandy Ratliff and 87-year-old Hazel Reimann.

In a KCRG.com story that aired July 16, 2008, Polk County Sheriff spokesman Neil Shultz would not disclose who might have killed the woman.

About Margaret Feige

Margaret Ellen (Mercer) Feige was born November 25, 1919 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of John Mercer and Dolly (Chittenden) Mercer.

She was raised in Des Moines and graduated from East High School. On Oct. 24, 1937 she married William P. Feige, and the couple farmed in several communities including Winterset, Collins, Maxwell and Pleasantville.

Margaret work at Johnny & Kay’s Motel and Restaurant in Des Moines for many years. In her later years Margaret lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Coleen and Donald Clifton, before moving to Des Moines in August of 2005.

In her spare time, Margaret enjoyed collecting dolls, flowers — especially geraniums — and cooking. Margaret was famous for her delicious crème pies.

margaret-feige-gravestoneCourtesy photo Carl Nollen, findagrave.com
Margaret Feige was laid to rest at the Pleasantville Cemetery in Marion County, Iowa.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William, in 1972; a sister, Ruth Christian; a brother, Aughtwell Mercer; two daughters, Shirley Powers and Coleen Clifton; and a grandson, Miles Dunley.

She is survived by a son, Paul Feige (Frances) of Pleasantville; a daughter, Judy Dunley (Mike) of Apple Valley, Minnesota; 8 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many other family members and friends.

Services were held on May 27, 2008 at the Pleasantville Baptist Church, with interment at the Pleasantville Cemetery.

Information Needed

If you have any information about Margaret Feige’s unsolved murder, please contact the Des Moines Police Department at (515) 283-4864.

Sources:
  • Des Moines Police Department
  • “Of 21 ’08 homicides, 3 remain unsolved,” The Des Moines Register, Jan. 23, 2009
  • “Detectives Work On Two Unsolved Murder Cases,” KCCI-TV News, Sept. 5, 2008
  • “Woman Found Dead Two Months Ago was Beaten to Death,” KCRG-TV Channel 9, July 16, 2008
  • Bertrand Funeral Homes
  • Find a Grave Memorial
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7 Responses to Margaret Feige

  1. Roberta Kost says:

    So sad that it still isn’t solved,

  2. Jacque says:

    Grandma will get this solved!!! Love you forever!

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