Peggy Dusbabek

"Treat others how you want to be treated." This is the inspiring daily life message for which Peggy Dusbabek lived by. As a wife, mother, friend and teacher, Peggy's positive attitude, big smile, and loving heart touched many. At sunrise on October 24th, Peggy's body surrendered to the disease of dementia, but her loving soul was welcomed into heaven for a peaceful eternal life. She was 83 years old.
Please help us celebrate the life and love of Peggy Dusbabek on Saturday, October 27th, 10:30am at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault. A luncheon will be held at the Faribault Golf Club following the service. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, October 26th from 4:00-7:00pm at Parker-Kohl Funeral Home and will continue Saturday morning at the church for one hour prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations be made to Faribault Area Hospice Foundation (FaribaultAreaHospiceFoundation.org) and Homestead Hospice Facility (2350 NW 26th St, Owatonna 55060) in memory of Peggy Dusbabek. Also, in honor of Peggy's teaching career at Faribault Public Schools, we ask that you bring a new or gently used book to the service or visitation. All books will be donated to the school system in her memory.
Peggy was born Margaret Ann Crow in Mitchell, South Dakota on July 16, 1935. She was the youngest of two children of Bert and Iva Crow. The Crow's owned several different businesses in Mitchell, including a sports bar in downtown Mitchell. Because her parents worked long hours there, they set up a room in the back of the sports bar for Peggy to play and study each day. So, Peggy joked that she grew up in the back of a bar! Her clever sense of humor and zingers will always be remembered.
Peggy cherished her childhood in Mitchell. As a young girl, she would hop on her brother, Del's motorcycle, and go for long rides with him to Sioux Falls... thus, her love of adventure was born! She enjoyed working every year at the annual Corn Palace week with her family. She and her girlfriends shared many days at Lake Mitchell and even named their own island, "SNAP Island," after Sara, Nancy, Ann and Peggy! She loved to go fishing with her parents and brother and later in life, spent summers fishing with her own family at McArdle's Resort in northern Minnesota.
In school, Peggy was very involved in her studies and clubs. She loved to sing and play the piano. She was a cheerleader, Girl Scout, and long-time Girl Scout leader, and her love of scouts took her on numerous camping trips around the country. Her love of making 'smores over a campfire became a regular Dusbabek family activity at the lake!
Peggy was very studious and an "A" student. She dreamed of going to college, when college was not yet popular for young women. When her mother, Iva, learned that Peggy wanted to be a teacher, Iva took $1.00 from the restaurant register each day to save towards future college costs. As a result, Peggy was able to attend Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. She had a very successful college experience... .as a cheerleader, majorette, finalist on Homecoming Court and great friend to many. She graduated with honors and an Elementary teaching degree.
Peggy's gift for teaching and love of children called her first to Ortonville, MN. After 2 years of teaching there, she moved to Owatonna, MN where she taught first grade for 1 year while making some life-long friends. Eventually, she would marry and move to Faribault, MN and continue her teaching career while raising her family. Peggy's love of teaching lasted a lifetime. She helped to shape the lives of many young people, and eventually the children of children she had already taught. Her career with Faribault Public Schools lasted 39 years, and we still hear wonderful stories of how she touched the lives of her students!
On St Patrick's Day in 1960, Peggy met the love of her life, Ed Dusbabek, while at Harold's Bar (now Al's bar) in Faribault! After several trips to Mitchell to meet the Crow family and a short courtship, Ed realized what a gem of a woman he had found, and he proposed. Peggy was eager to convert to the Catholic faith and they were married November 19, 1960. She embraced her new religion and immersed herself in Rosary Circle, Cursillo, church festivals, teaching Sunday School, and even became a Eucharistic minister. Peggy's faith was the guiding principle of her life and she was always generous with her service time to the church and others.
Peggy's most important role in her life was raising her family of 5 kids. She always put her kids before herself and embraced each for their uniqueness. She often put aside housework to sew clothes for the kids, make costumes, bake cookies, or iron leaves with fall crayon colors between wax paper! She didn't miss a band concert or sporting event that anyone had going on. She cherished the weekly weekend road trips in the conversion van she and Ed would make to all the Big 10 schools to watch their son, Mark, play Gopher football. She made sure to give equal time to her kids and traveled around the country to visit each of them whenever possible. As a grandmother, she cherished the moments she could babysit, read stories, make cinnamon toast houses, sing corny songs, and swing in the hammock at the lake house. She celebrated each one of her kids and grandkids and made them all feel extra special.
Peggy joins her heavenly family who went before her, including, her father and mother, Bert & Iva Crow, and her brother and sister-in-law, Delmont & Vesta Crow and nephew Dave. She is survived by her husband, Edward, and her 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren: Mary & Kurt Guenther (Cumming, GA) Luke Guenther & Kyle Guenther - Julie & Tim Putrah (Faribault) Piper & Brendan Sjodin and their children Dash & Poppy Sjodin, Ben Putrah, Bo & Alli Putrah (St Louis Park, MN) - Mark & Trish Dusbabek (Studio City, CA) Sasha Dusbabek - Cathy & Joe Kaul (Lakewood, CO) Conrad Kaul & Josie Kaul - Teresa & Scott Bergs (Stillwater, MN) Morgan Grim, Lily Grim & Ollie Grim.