Margerete Strack

Margerete Strack, 88, of Peru, Illinois, passed away on March 10, 2026, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

Born on July 8, 1937, in Peru to Barney and Betty (Meyer) Cerri, Margerete graduated from LaSalle Peru Twp. High School in 1955 and La Salle–Peru–Oglesby Jr. College in 1957. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois State University in 1961, a master’s degree from ISU in 1970, and completed additional studies at the University of Illinois and the College of Education of Evanston, focusing on special education and reading disabilities.

She dedicated 35 years to teaching elementary school and continued as a substitute teacher for another 18 years, working in Oglesby, Spring Valley, and Putnam County. She also served as president of the Cedar Point school board while her sons were young. An avid athlete, Margerete bowled for more than 60 years, holding leadership roles in the Women’s Bowling Association for over three decades and earning Bowler of the Year honors in 1991. She was equally passionate about golf, actively organizing women’s tournaments at local courses.

Margerete is survived by her sons, Charles Piecha of Cedar Point and Daniel (Judy) Piecha of Delavan, Wisconsin; her sister, Ann Cerri of Spring Valley; stepdaughters Joan (Terry) Novak of Florida and Debra (Dennis) Tomaszewski of LaSalle; and stepsons Bob (Diane) Strack of Wausau, Wisconsin, Richard (Diane) Strack of Tonica, Rodney (Rhonda) Strack of Leonore, and Dean Strack of Peru. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Charles “Ki” Piecha, her second husband Louis Strack, a granddaughter Amy Missel, a grandson David Strack, and two stepdaughters and their husbands, Lou Ann and Bill Bernardoni and Cathy and John Bangert.