Margaret Fowler

On February 4, her 45th birthday, the stars called our Maggie back from an ordinary world that could no longer contain her extraordinary being. From the time she was born, Maggie lit up rooms with her voluptuous personality, her colorful moods, her impish smile, and a voice that could hush an auditorium with just a few gorgeous notes. From a young age, Maggie was an entertainer, winning a spot on the Grand Haven Winterfest stage singing "Miss Celie's Blues" at the age of seven. She performed in countless plays, musicals and choirs and could be heard singing nearly every day of her too-short life.

Maggie was a wildly unconventional spirit living in a conventional world. She was wickedly clever, and relished in pranks and shenanigans. She also loved collecting and trading in oddities. In later years she struggled with addiction and mental illness, but these things did not define her. She worked very hard to fight her demons and throughout her challenges, remained one of the most loving and generous people you knew. She loved everyone, from her friends and family to the barefoot drug addict on the street, to whom she often gifted “Mag Bags” filled with toiletries and snacks.

We’ve known for a long time that Maggie’s time in this world was tenuous at best. We came close to losing her more times than we can count. And although we thought we were prepared for this eventual day, we are gutted by her loss. The world feels so much quieter without her voice, her laugh, her big generous heart. There aren’t enough words to describe her or enough tears to mark her absence. But the pain helps us understand how she felt when she lost her young son, CJ, several years ago, moving through each day wearing a “normal” mask when everything feels abnormal, upside down.

Maggie was a loving mom and daughter and adored her siblings, her three precious children and her beloved dog, Janis. She spoke daily with her "wasband" Deric, whose deep friendship she cherished. We are grateful that she is free from so much physical and emotional pain, finally at peace. They say “Sorrow is the good Lord’s toll for love.” We had no idea that the toll would be so high. But it was worth every single moment just to experience the enormity of her humanity.

Maggie is survived by her mother, Eldonna Edwards, sister Andrea Mokma, brother Jacob Mielnicki, daughters Allena Bishop and Nadia Bishop, her best friend Deric Fowler, and her 4-legged companion, Janis. She was preceded in death by her father, Mark Mielnicki and her son, CJ Bishop. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Maggie's life on April 26th from 1-3 PM at The Momentum Center, 401 N. 7th St. in Grand Haven, MI.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider honoring Maggie with a donation to The Momentum Center, serving adults and teens with addiction, mental health, and/or loss for people in the community.  https://www.momentumcentergh.org/donate