Caledonia Argus

A labor of love- Freeburg woman turns quilts into expressions of kindness

Posted: 5/6/03

by Andrew Miller
Argus News Reporter

The number of quilts sheís made over the years number in the hundreds, yet only a few remain with her today. The rest are scattered about Houston County, in the homes of friends and family and anyone whoís needed them, each given as a gift of love.

Longtime Freeburg resident Margaret Goetzinger has been making quilts for over half a century, taking clothing thatís seen better days and turning it into something useful, something utilitarian. Her quilts from past and present will be honored at an exhibit sponsored by the Crooked Creek Homemakers this Motherís Day.

Peggy Derrick, the eventís organizer, felt the need to in some small way honor Goetzinger, who, though currently residing in Caledonia, has been a fixture of the Freeburg community since the early 1940s. ìEverything Margaret is involved in expresses her love of her community and the loving kindness with which she embraces the world,î Derrick said. ìHer quilts are just one manifestation of the purpose of her whole life. All of her quilts are given freely and nearly all are made of the most humble of used materials.î

Goetzinger began quilting in her early teens while living with her family in rural Little Falls, MN. She didnít attend school because there were no school buses, and her family couldnít afford to board her in town. So one day, her father came home with a new pair of scissors, intent on teaching her quilting to keep her occupied.

ìI wasnít very fast on the uptake,î Goetzinger said, ìbut I made enough quilt blocks in the next couple years to get me going. I used old clothing, any old clothesñ womenís dresses, wide shirts, apronsñ and it was just something I did because I felt it was needed.î

Her output increased after her brother-in-lawís wife died. Her brother-in-law Omar had died in a car accident prior to that, and his wifeís death orphaned 12 children, who went to different families. ìAfter she was gone we realized the kids were all in need,î Goetzinger said. ìYears ago, homes werenít heated like they are today, and you needed a lot of warm quilts, so all the kids received one.î

A relatively large familyñ nine kids of her own, 20-plus grandchildren, and over 10 great-grandchildrenñ kept her busy making quilts for kin, but she still managed to produce enough to donate to area organizations benefitting those in need. Sheís given quilts to food shelves, nursing homes, and donates a quilt to the an annual church raffle. Quite an undertaking that is, considering each quilt takes a minimum of a month to make. Yet her desire to provide these gifts hasnít waned with the passing of time, noting that, ìIf I can still do it, Iíll do it if no other way than in slow motion.î

The quilts are the focus of the Motherís Day exhibit, Derrick said, but much of the impetus behind the show was the example Goetzinger set for Freeburg residents in the past half century. A mother figure to many, she played a leading role in the Homemakers group, and has been an outspoken advocate of education since the consolidation of the Freeburg school. Sheís served as the director of the SEMCAC board and has been active in her church, Peace United Church of Christ. All of this came in addition to farming and raising a family, not to mention the scads of quilts she produced.

It is Goetzingerís approach to life, Derrick said, and the kindness which motivates her actions, that truly make her someone to admire, someone to look up to, someone to model yourself after. ìShe expresses a sense of humility that is almost shockingly sincere, so rare is it, and she truly has a kind word for everyone,î Derrick noted. ìShe is the most compassionate human being I have ever met.î

The Motherís Day exhibit, she added, is not just about honoring a great quiltmaker, but about honoring a great individual, whose ability to quilt evolved into a way of expressing her love for those around her.

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