Patricia Lou Anderson Magerkurth
Patricia Lou Anderson Magerkurth
March 10, 1931 — March 29, 2019
We say good-bye to the loving mother of four, Patricia Lou Anderson Magerkurth of Marble Falls, also known as “The Propeller Girl.” On July 1, 1951, 20-year-old Pat Magerkurth was critically injured after a plane ride around Moline, Illinois when she jumped off the front of the wing of the two seater aircraft into its propeller and after a miraculous recovery, led a blessed life.
Pat grew up on a small farm in Illinois before attending college at Western Illinois, majoring in her passion of journalism. She soon married the love of her life in June of 1952: Merlin Albert Magerkurth, a brave soldier, poet, and farmer, returning home from the Korean War. They raised four children: Mark, Joan, Brian, and Craig. Mark served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, Joan graduated from the University of Illinois, and both Brian and Craig graduated from West Point. Pat was an active member of the community, serving as president of the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, president of the VFW auxiliary and as the chair of “Voice of Democracy” and “Patriots Pen” for MFISD.
She participated in unsuccessful, but rewarding, campaigns for mayor of Granite Shoals and Burnet County Commissioner as well as owning King Neptune’s Pier restaurant, Kampers Korner, and the Buckhorn Lodge in Marble Falls. Pat was an active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Marble Falls, and a past member of Genesis Lutheran Church in Buchanan Dam and St John’s Lutheran Church in Osco, Illinois. She and Merlin authored a book on his letters home from war titled Pipeline Korea. She loved traveling, journalism, and reading; taking several road trips to Long Beach California from Illinois in the 1940s, exploring southern Europe, Alaska, and various states in the US visiting her military kids. Pat was an extremely proud mother and grandmother of past and present service members.
She is survived by her sister, Margrette Utech of Washington, Iowa; her brother-in-law, Clark Magerkurth of Temple Texas; her children, Mark, Joan and husband, Burnet County Constable Chip Leake; Brian and wife Valarie of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Craig and wife Mary of Marble Falls; grandchildren, Jessica Roberts and husband David, Tyler Magerkurth and wife Joy, Chad, Kiley and Brody Magerkurth; and great-grandchildren, Bree and Austin Roberts.
Her countless detailed, daily journals will forever provide insight into the life of a beautiful soul.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2019 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Marble Falls, Texas. An online guest registry may be signed at putnamcares.com.
Pat’s care entrusted to Putnam Funeral Home and Crematory, 145 Texas Avenue, Kingsland, Texas 78639. (325)388-0008
