Obituaries

Margaret M. “Peggy” Ready Margaret M. “Peggy” Ready, age 61 of Spring Green, formerly of Bear Valley, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the University of Chicago Hospital following an extended illness. She was born on December 24, 1962, in Green Bay. Peggy graduated from Ithaca High School in 1980. Peggy had many careers--all helping others. She was the EMS Director at Cuba City Area Rescue Squad, a special education teaching assistant at Cuba City School District for 15 years, and a clerk at the Book Nook in Richland Center and Walden Books in La Crosse. Peggy, the middle child of Gene and Mary Wunnicke, grew up on the Wunnicke Farm in Bear Valley. During her younger years, Peggy often spent time with both the Wunnicke and Coyle cousins as family was very important to her Mom and Dad. Because of this, family was a top priority for Peggy. Peggy was a very attentive and caring mother to Daniel, spending hours reading to him, playing with him, and helping him pursue his interests. She spent hours with her nieces and nephews, especially Julia and Emma. Recently, Peggy and Kim were blessed with their first grandchild, Archer. His birth was such a joy to Peggy, and she so loved spending time with him. Peggy developed her love for nature and woods from her dad as she watched him take care of the land. Her truck was often found at Kathleen’s but Peggy’d be nowhere to be found-she’d be off hiking in the woods. The Bear Valley property, known to us as “the Grell place,” was special to Peggy because she and Kathleen inherited it from their dad and it was a very special place to him. She’d often go on long walks with Toby (Kathleen’s dog) through the woods, looking for signs of deer and other wildlife, hunting morels, gathering cool pieces of birch limbs for her home, looking for unique rocks, taking pictures of plants, trees, the horizon, or just sitting on her Aldo Leopold bench on the overlook taking it all in--this was Peggy’s happy place. Adventures in nature truly brought Peggy happiness. She, Kim, and Daniel enjoyed several family trips to all areas of Colorado. Hiking and camping in the mountains, fly-fishing, white-water rafting, and exploring all the nooks and crannies of that beautiful state. Each time, she brought back more rocks - a rock from every spot or area they visited - to be added to her landscaping or as pieces to display in her house. The pictures she took of the Colorado landscape were beautiful. Their home was always a reflection of her love for nature and family. Peggy was known to wander. She loved to shop and was often out and about finding unique gifts for special people. Going to concerts with Kim or Kathleen was a highlight and so fun for her. Often, Peggy would visit the cemeteries in Bear Valley and Bagley and take great care of her parents and Kim’s parents’ gravesites. Cleaning the headstones and adorning them with beautiful plants. Her love for family extended to all family, living and deceased. Peggy was married to Kim A. Ready on September 20, 1986. Survivors include her husband, Kim Ready of Spring Green; her son, Daniel (Katie) Ready and grandson Archer of Spring Green; brother, Michael (Andrea Kaiser) Wunnicke of Bear Valley; sister, Kathleen (David) Schoen of Bear Valley; nieces and nephews, Aaron (Chelsea) Wunnicke, Claire Wunnicke (Tod Pulvermacher), Brendan Wunnicke, Julia and Emma Schoen; special cousin, Tom (Lonnie) Haas of Richland Center; sisters-in-law, Linda Ready (Dennis Baures) of Bagley, Jeannie Blackborn of Bagley, Gloria Cleghorn of Bagley; nieces and nephews, Brad (Camy) Blackbourn, Rae Marie (Tom)Woodward, John (Lori) Clark, Linda Lea (Gary) White, Walter (Jessica) Ready; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Gene and Mary Wunnicke of Bear Valley. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Loreto Ridge. Memorials can be sent to the family to be distributed to meaningful causes Online condolences are available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com The Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.