Mary Margaret (Witt) Calhan, 87, passed away of natural causes on July 2, 2020 at Wellbrooke of Crawfordsville.
She was born at home in rural Montgomery County, on June 18, 1933, and was one of 12 children born to Arthur and Daisy (Scott) Witt.
She graduated from Roachdale High School in 1951 and from St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Indianapolis in 1955. Margaret was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, paving the way for three of her younger sisters to follow into nursing. She began her nursing career at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Indianapolis in 1955.
On November 5, 1955, she married Robert Calhan at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in downtown Crawfordsville.
When she and Bob moved to Jamestown, she worked private duty while their children were young. The family moved to the New Ross/ Mace area where she began working at Culver Union Hospital as a floor nurse.
Margaret, was one of the first nurses to staff the new Intensive Coronary Care Unit at Culver, and was later promoted to nurse manager of the emergency room at Culver AMI. She retired from Culver AMI Hospital in 1995, but continued to work as a private duty nurse and volunteer at the Well Baby Clinic.
She and Bob enjoyed 55 years of marriage before Bob’s death in 2010. Margaret is survived by her five children, Catherine (Randal) Fischer, Brownsburg, Mary Therese Calhan, Zionsville, Elizabeth (David) Flohr, Ladoga, John (Kelly) Calhan, Zionsville and L. Colleen Calhan, Chicago; grandchildren, Matthew (Tricia) Fischer, Ben (Regan) Fischer, Stephen (Kristin) Fischer, Laura Fischer, Courtney Calhan, Liam Calhan, Emma Flohr and Veda Calhan; great-grandchildren, Rosemary Fischer and Everett Fischer; two sisters, Shirley (Ron) Warner and Betty Cloncs; and many nieces and nephews.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Wanetta Morehouse, Judy Bruce, Connie Long and Jean DeTrude; brothers, Arthur Witt Jr., Charles Witt and Vernon Witt; and two siblings, Anna and Paul, who died at an early age.
Margaret was a pillar of strength within her family and throughout her life. She will be remembered with love for her unwavering support of her family and friends. Not everyone may have known Margaret, but those who did were often touched by her kindness and her ability to see humanity in each person.
A private family mass will be held Monday, July 6 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Crawfordsville.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the nursing staff at Wellbrooke who provided excellent care to our mother, and to all the healthcare workers who tirelessly put their lives on the line everyday, especially during this pandemic.
Memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery County Free Clinic, P.O. Box 86, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Visit online at www.mcfreeclinic.org to make a donation.
