Margaret "Peggy" Schmeling, 61, entered the gates of Heaven on October 8, 2021, after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. She was a longtime resident of Fredonia and recently lived in Cedarburg. The oldest of five children, Peggy was born in Milwaukee on Nov. 4, 1959, to James and Louise Schmeling. She attended school in Shorewood. Her family moved to Ozaukee County, which was home for most of her adult life. Peggy dedicated her professional life to healthcare. As the first person in her immediate family to attend college, she earned a bachelor of arts degree from Marquette University in 1983. She became a nursing home administrator in training with Beverly Enterprises – the first young woman in this capacity. She worked as an administrator in Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Ashland and Council Bluffs, Iowa. Peggy launched a career change over several years by earning her associate's degree and then a bachelor's of science in nursing from Cardinal Stritch University where she also worked on a Masters degree. Peg loved learning! As a nurse, Peggy dedicated herself to compassionate care for all her patients. She constantly sought out new challenges and was eager to stay atop the advances in her field. Her passion for nursing inspired others to become nurses. Over the years, she worked at West Allis Memorial Hospital, Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls, LifeCare Hospital in Pewaukee, and for Alexian Village assisted living before retiring due to health problems in 2019. Peg filled numerous roles in her quest for new knowledge and skills. She worked in the operating room, intensive care, medical-surgical units, and the emergency room. Her strong interest in emergency medicine led her to work for 15 years as a part-time, on-call nurse for ambulance duty with critical-care patients for Lifestar, Paratech, Bell, and others. She also was a traveling ER nurse in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. This rich career left her with friends wherever she traveled in the health care world. It was a great source of consolation, reminiscing, and encouragement as she managed her cancer diagnosis and countless visits to various health care facilities throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. Peggy was known for her exuberance, good humor, strong faith, her love of her large extended family, and passion for the Brewers. The example of faith she set was a constant source of strength to those around her. She reminded everyone she was on the road to the Resurrection and was looking forward to her audience with the King. Peg voluntarily managed the Port Washington Fish Days carnival for many years. She was a voracious reader. She loved animals, having nine cats and three dogs over her adult life. Several of them were rescued by her and had serious difficulties to overcome. Peg had unusual patience and love to help them become happy companions. Peg also loved to cook and became a follower of cooking shows in her last years, making many dishes for friends and neighbors, despite her limited ability from the cancer to partake herself. She was a steadfast supporter of several meal programs for the poor. Peg was especially grateful to her sister Patty who was her primary caregiver for over four years, and for her sister's gracious employer, whose generosity made that possible. Peggy was deeply thankful for the spiritual care and support from many at St. Joe's Catholic Church in Grafton. In addition to her parents, Peg's survivors include her deeply grieving siblings Chuck (Jenny) Schmeling; Patty (Dave) Jaffke; Sharon Schmeling (James) Kates; and Eric Schmeling; nephews Andrew, Ben (Missy), Patrick (Diedre Marsh), and Lukas Schmeling; and nieces Tess (John) Wagner; Maggie (Matthew) Waldoch; and Lucy Kates, along with many aunts and uncles, cousins, and dear family friends. Peg's Mass of Christian Burial is at St. Joseph Parish Catholic Church 1619 Washington Street, Grafton on Friday, October 29, 2021, at 10:00 AM. Visitation begins at 9:00 AM and is followed by mass at 10:00 AM. Arrangements are being handled by Eernisse Funeral Home, Cedarburg. It would be a great favor to Peg to send memorial donations to her parish so they can continue the good work that the Lord inspired in her: St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1619 Washington St., Grafton, WI 53024.