Marguerite JoAnn Tilashalski

On January 27, 2026, Marguerite JoAnn (Hauschild) Tilashalski (91) died peacefully in the presence of family.  Marguerite was born in Macoupin County Illinois on June 16, 1934.  Her family was living in Carlinville; they later moved to the Hauschild family farm in Dorchester where she resided until her graduation from Gillespie High School in 1952.  She moved to Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis with friends and worked for Laclede Steel until her marriage to Jim Tilashalski on December 18, 1954.  Marguerite and Jim had met at the Coliseum Ballroom while she was attending high school.  Following the wedding, Marguerite moved to Carbondale where Jim was a student.  One year later, their daughter Karen was born.  The family spent 2 years in Murphysboro where Marguerite worked as a waitress while Jim taught school.  In 1960 their first son, Steve, was born.  Later that year they relocated to Edwardsville.

Son Kenny was born in 1965.  Soon after, Marguerite began attending SIUE where she received a degree in Library Science, which led to employment as the Head Librarian at Roxana High School where she worked until her retirement.  Through a grant Marguerite wrote, the high school library was one of the first in the area to be equipped with computers.  To support their maintenance, Marguerite became one of the first female Apple technicians in the country.  Retirement led to a school library position at Metro East Lutheran High School, and she helped establish libraries at Trinity Lutheran School in Edwardsville and St. Paul Catholic School in Highland

During her career, Marguerite continued taking classes at SIUE, receiving her Master’s degree in Instructional Technology.  Her coursework included accounting and other classes she enjoyed.  For several years, Marguerite and Jim owned and managed Our World Travel in Collinsville, with a branch in Edwardsville.  The travel agency launched years of international travel for Marguerite and her family.  She was particularly fond of cruises.  Her trips took her to South and Central America, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe.  In 2006, Marguerite moved to Hoover, Alabama to be close to Kenny and his family.

Throughout her life, Marguerite was an avid reader and lap swimmer.  She had a talent for sewing, reupholstering furniture, and quilting.  She acquired DYI skills including painting, gardening and refinishing furniture, and she successfully installed a drop ceiling.  During her retirement years, she developed a passion for estate sales.

Marguerite was proceeded in death by her parents, Walter and Mathilda (Heyen) Hauschild and her 8 siblings, Dorothy, Melva, Clarence, Norma, twins Earl and Carl, Raymond and Judy.  She leaves behind husband Jim, children Karen (Bob Schrader), Kenny (Tina Carter) and Steve (Julie Hall), grandchildren Danny (Mona), Melissa (Nathan Wycoff), Mark (Frances), Kevin, Matthew (Mari), Carter (Lauren), Hunter, Cole and Chase, great-grandchildren Linkin, Raven and George, and many nieces and nephews.

Marguerite was an active member of Shades Valley Lutheran Church in Homewood, Alabama, and she remained close to her high school classmates, enjoyed her good neighbors, and loved her family dearly.  She continued to swim, quilt, garden, read, travel and attend estate sales until ovarian cancer hit her for a second time.  She became an advocate for ovarian cancer awareness.

A private burial was held at Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville.  A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gillespie on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 11 am.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness at sloca.org or by calling 314-966-7562, or the Marguerite Tilashalski Educational Scholarship at PO Box 125, Gillespie, IL 62033 or thepartnership7.org/donate/ .  Condolences may be expressed online at weberfuneralhome.com.