Margaret Ball

Mesa, AZ – Margaret Ball, 83, died quietly May 23rd in the Memory Care wing of The Summit in Mesa, AZ. A memorial service will be held Saturday June 19, 2021 at 9:30AM at the Panora United Methodist Church in Panora, IA. Margaret was raised on a farm near Macksburg, IA and married her high school sweetheart Gary Ball. They raised 3 children in Norwalk, IA. They lived in Panora, on the lake, for several years before moving back to the Des Moines area.

Margaret had a 43 year career in the insurance industry. She retired from EMC Insurance Companies in 2001 after 29 years of rising through the ranks to become Executive Vice President of Underwriting. Margaret was inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame in 2002.

She and Gary built their dream retirement home on a golf course with a mountain view in Gold Canyon, AZ. She attended Gold Canyon United Methodist Church and served as the church photographer for many years. Margaret loved nature and seeing the world. She enjoyed traveling, photography, gardening, motorcycles, camping, boating, water & snow skiing, snowmobiling, scuba diving and skydiving!

Margaret is survived by her sister Velma Doyle (Fred), brother Carl Porter (Marcia), son Monte Ball (Sheryl), daughter Marla Mecham (Bruce) and son Mark Ball (Liz). Margaret loved photographing and playing with 11 grand-children and 12 great grand-children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ed & Lola Porter and her husband Gary.

Condolences to the family: The Ball Family, 304 41st St. West Des Moines, IA 50265. Donations in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/donate)