Margaret Ruth Tietze McCormick, 73, died peacefully with her daughters by her side, December 2, 2017, at KU Medical Center Hospital in KansasCity, KS.
Born September 29, 1944, in St. Louis, MO, Margaret was the first of four children born to Irving B. Tietze Jr. and M. Reta Tietze. She graduated from College High School in Bartlesville, OK in 1962.
In 1966, Margaret graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence with a B.A. in English. While at KU Margaret was a member of the Chi Omega sorority and as a senior was tapped to the Mortar Board Honor Society. In 1968, she received her Masters degree with honors in Education and English.
Margaret married John James McCormick in 1968 and they moved to Kansas City, Missouri. There Margaret taught writing at UMKC for seven years where her students honored her with a Mortar Board Award for outstanding classroom teaching. She also enjoyed serving as a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Margaret and John divorced in 1981.
Her career as a business writer began as she joined Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company, where she worked for seven years. She was the first professional woman to join a department of petroleum engineers. During those years Margaret served on the board of her professional organization —IABC (International Association of Business Communications), eventually becoming its president. Throughout her long career as a professional writer Margaret worked for Farmland Industries, The Writers Group, Cerner Corporation, and as a consulting technical writer for industries as diverse as aeronautical engineering, finance, telecommunications, and geology. Margaret joined the IT department at Sprint where she retired in 2014, after eight years and with two US patents to her credit.
Margaret was a member of the Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church and earlier of All Souls Unitarian Church where she served on the board of trustees for two terms; once its president. She was privileged to work with student ministers preparing for ordination. She also chaired the ministerial search committee and served the Unitarian Universalist community as district co-representative for congregations throughout the midwest.
In 2001, Margaret married Leo Hogan. Though different in religious perspectives and backgrounds, Margaret and Leo respected and cherished one another and each other’s families. They loved to take motorcycle rides through the countryside. Sadly, Leo passed away in 2013.
Margaret was a lifelong learner, and her passions were understanding the nuances of race relations in the US, chamber music, art, travel and her beloved family. She was an inspired hostess and loved to entertain. Unapologetically intellectual, Margaret possessed an artistic, graceful and curious spirit.
Preceded in death by her parents, I.B. Tietze, Jr., M. Reta Tietze Speer; one brother, Dr. Paul Tietze; and her husband Leo Hogan.
Margaret leaves behind her daughters Anne Canan (Tom), Laura Grobler (Ryan), grandchildren Quinn and Hannah Grobler, all of Kansas City; sister Mary Jane Tietze Witt (John) of Bedford, TX; brother Eric Tietze (Joyce) of San Antonio, TX; sister-in-law Dr. Pamela Tietze of Oklahoma City, OK.
She also leaves behind grandchildren Davon Hogan and Tavion Hogan of Kansas City. There are many dear, dear friends, nieces and nephews who will miss this much loved and cherished woman.
A remembrance service is pending. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations or volunteering to Operation Breakthrough, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
