Cynthia Ann Maeglin passed away peacefully on April 22, 2023 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was a modest and humble person with consummate love for her children and grandchildren. We will miss her faithful optimism deeply.
Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Reverend Barbara Muhs will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.
Cynthia was the oldest child of Helen and Harold Timm, born in Muscatine at Bellevue Hospital overlooking the Mississippi River. She grew up on the family farm, and enjoyed the best of both rural and small town life. She attended the Zion Lutheran Church School, and graduated from Muscatine High School in 1956. As a sophomore she began to go steady with a junior, Otto Richard (“Dick”) Maeglin. The two high school sweethearts were together until he passed in late 2020. He was the love of her life until the end.
Cynthia earned a B.A. in education from Drake University after only three years, studying also at MCC and Iowa State University. She graduated and married Dick in 1959. Between 1959 and 1969, she bore five sons, David, John, Steve, Tom, and Bill.
Cynthia was a very broad-minded and well-traveled person. She enjoyed meeting new people and experiencing different cultures wherever she visited. Beginning as an exchange student in post-war Germany, she travelled extensively, internationally and domestically, both for business and leisure. She was active in the Muscatine Sister Cities and opened her home to exchange students from Denmark, Germany, France, Netherlands, Russia, and Japan. In 1985 she hosted members of the Chinese delegation, which resulted in the unlikely attendance of the future president of China at her son’s 16th birthday party.
Cynthia became a successful small business owner, operating Muscatine Travel through the 1980s. She was one of the first women to join the Muscatine Rotary Club and served a term as president. Cynthia served on the boards of or volunteered with the Muscatine Community College, the Sister Cities committee, the Salvation Army, the United Way, the Symphony Guild, Zion Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran Homes. She also enjoyed spending time reading with elementary school students at Mulberry Elementary and other grade schools in town.
Cynthia was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Helen Timm, her brother David Timm, and her husband O. Richard Maeglin. She is survived by her sister, Susan Bechter of Crozier Virginia, and her sons David (Shelly, Muscatine), John (Michele, Northbrook, IL), Steve (Catherine, New York City), Tom (Phoebe, New York City), and Bill (Christie, Doylestown PA), grandchildren Linsey, Lexi, Mara, Sara, Ryan, Chelsea, Amanda, Quinn, Sam, Daphne, Otto, Harry, and Joe, great-grandchildren Mina and Lennon and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Muscatine Community College or another worthy cause of your choice.