Margaret Hickman, of Madison, All-Star wife, mother, community volunteer and University of Wisconsin advocate, passed away on March 1, one day short of her ninety-eighth birthday. Her adventure began in rural Iowa during the Depression, walking to a one room school house (45 students, one teacher) and performing dairy farm chores with her siblings the old-fashioned way. Wife of the late professor of actuarial science and dean of the Wisconsin Business School James C. Hickman, Margaret’s life spanned humble beginnings to include travel and volunteer ventures on five continents and interactions with senior federal officials, Wisconsin business and political leaders, All-American football players and prominent UW alumni.

School sweethearts since ninth grade, Margaret married Jim in 1950, shortly after graduating from Iowa State University. Their honeymoon was spent courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service atop an Idaho lookout tower while searching for forest fires, and with a pack of mules as their primary summer companions. (No satellite images or drones in those days!) When Jim returned to the University of Iowa for his master’s and doctoral degrees, Margaret worked as a food supervisor at a men’s dormitory with 750 residents, and where youthful Hawkeye Tom Brokaw was a student food service employee. She also oversaw the training table for the 1958 Rose Bowl champion Iowa football team.

Margaret was a devoted cheerleader and advocate for her three children, through athletic seasons, theatre projects, homework of all kinds, health scares and Halloween costumes, to name just a few. Her empathy, enthusiasm and undivided support as a parent set an example few could match.

A move to Madison in 1972 opened new opportunities for community involvement as a member of the governing board for Covenant Presbyterian Church, mentor to middle school students, president of the University League, volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, member of the Madison Civics Club and ringleader or participant in outreach efforts focused on targeted community groups.

Jim’s selection as business school dean provided Margaret with still more ways to engage others. She loved hosting welcoming dinners for new faculty and their spouses and to help organize school events for faculty and staff members. She was also an occasional partner with Jim in meeting with major funding prospects during the successful campaign to build Grainger Hall with private financial support. Later in life, she even cut a compelling video testimonial to further the UW Foundation’s effort to fund the Hickman/Larson Faculty Chair in Actuarial Science.

After Jim’s death in 2006, Margaret restructured her own life to become a regular lap swimmer, and supporter of American Players Theatre, Wisconsin Public Radio and the Presbyterian Church. Even into her 90s, she liked few things better than marching uphill from her apartment at Oakwood to the neighborhood Panera for coffee and a cinnamon roll.

In addition to her husband of 56 years, Margaret is predeceased by her parents Wallace F and Ruth McKee, brother Robert McKee, and sisters Miriam Cerveny and Jean Jervis. She is survived by sister Beverly Newell of Prineville, OR; children Charles (Rebecca) of Westlake Village, CA; Don (Sandra) of Merrifield, MN; and Barbara of Laramie, WY; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 326 S. Segoe Road, at 10:30 a.m. on March 21. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to the Margaret McKee Hickman University League Scholarship Fund at the UW Foundation.

Please share your memories of Margaret by posting in her guestbook.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road Madison

(608) 238-3434