Margaret Pillar

Margaret Ann Pillar, 91, of Kalamazoo, died peacefully on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began March 27, 1935, in Anchor Bay, Michigan, the third of three children born to Thomas Chockley and Evelyn Olzack Chockley. She married Arnold F. Pillar on January16, 1954, in New Baltimore, Michigan.

When asked how she was, Margaret never failed to say, “Mean, nasty, and rotten!” But, she was a woman with a generous heart and her friends and family knew that she loved in a quiet and profound way. Margaret loved Arnold and where one was found the other was always there. Margaret was a woman of faith, attending Mass twice a week while she was still driving and commissioning the stations of the cross at St. Catherine of Siena Church in memory of Arnold.

Margaret was proud to be a big game hunter. She is believed to be the oldest women to obtain the dangerous seven animals in Africa and many plains game. She also hunted bear in Canada and Kamchatka, Russia. Bear hunting was a passion she shared with her husband. She also hunted Red Stag, Fallow Deer, and Tahr in New Zealand. Travel was a deep love. Margaret had been on every continent including Antarctica and traveled north of the artic circle hunting Musk Ox. Her travel companions will cherish the stories of their shared adventures.

Margaret will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by one daughter, LeeAnn Raymon, of St. Joseph, Michigan; two sons: Greg Pillar of Gobles, Michigan, and Alan Pillar of Whitehall, Michigan; grandchildren: Lucy (Joshua) of St. Joseph, Michigan, Jennifer (Bradley) Lee of Middleville, Michigan, Scott (Leah) Pillar of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Lacy Bild of Gobles, Michigan, and Michelle Pillar of Winterville, North Carolina; great-grandchildren: Audrey Lee, Amelia Lee, Blake Pillar, Holli Capp, Chase Pillar, Gavin Fulton, Genevieve Fulton, and Hayes Pillar; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-two years, Arnold Pillar; sister, Helen Chockley; and her brother, Thomas (Dee) Chockley.

Family and friends will gather Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, (269) 375-2900, and again one hour prior to her Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church, 1150 W Centre Ave, Portage.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.