Margaret (Peg) Ann Laubach
Margaret (Peg) Ann Laubach Traverse, 94, passed away on December 2, 2014 in Naples, Florida. She was one of six children, born September 28, 1920 in Thief River Falls, Minesota, to Stephen and Rose Laubach, raised in Wrenshall, Minnesota, and graduated from Wrenshall Hish School at age 17. At 18, she met her husband when he was working on highway 23 in front of her parents, store/tavern, the Military Inn. She married Benjamin Thompson Traverse on December 31, 1941 in Pensacola, Florida, where he was stationed in the U.S. Navy. In 1942 Peg moved with Ben to Lima, Peru, S.A., where he began his career as an airline pilot for Pan American-Grace Airways. They lived in Lima for the next six years, where three of their four children were born. When they returned to the states, they made their home in Miami, Florida. Learning to fly from a grass strip, Peg earned her private pilot’s license in 1957. She spent three years working as branch manager for The Miami Daily News and was often recognized for having the top circulation for the newspaper in the Kendall area. The next move was in 1971 to Pine Island, Florida, where the couple’s retirement home was a stilt house built on a large plot of land, with an airstrip for a single engine plane parked under the house, as well as a widows watch stop for a panoramic view of the island. Peg earned her real estate license and became part owner of the Matlacha franchise of West Coast Realty in the 70’s and 80’s. In 1992 she and Ben relocated again to Naples and then in 2002 to LaBelle, Florida. On the death of her beloved husband of 63 years in 2005, Margaret returned to Naples. Throughout her life, Peg combined her love of family with her love of cooking, preparing elaborate family meals. She collected and avidly read cookbooks, like they were novels. A talented musician, at family gatherings Peg would play songs by ear on the piano, accordian or organ. She was also an accomplished seamstress. Margaret is survived by her sister, Ramona Laveau; children Carole Traverse, Judy Baxley (Joe), Richard Traverse (Patty), and Dr. Mary Traverse; grandsons Stephen Rice, Andrew LoBean (Julie), Timothy Rice (Julie), Hawk Newton, Orion Newton and Zane Newton (Karen;) great grandchildren Matthew Rice, Mark Rice, Stephen Rice, Drew LoBean, Dorathea Vanderlinden (Elliott), Austin Rice, Benjamin Rice, Kaia Newton, Zadie Newton, Kambria Newton and Zenleigh Newton; many nephews and nieces, including her namesake, Peggy Laubach Paulson; and three great great grandchildren. Margaret was predeceased by her brothers Art, Ervine and Edwin Laubach and her sister Dorothy Larson. Visitation will be at the Naples Funeral Home at 3107 Davis Boulevard on December 18 at 7 p.m. A memorial Mass will take place at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church at 5260 28th Avenue SW in Naples on December 19th at 11 a.m.