#24 - Thaeler, Margaret Ruth Heidenreich

Faith Jones, Archives Team

Born in Minnesota, Margaret R. Heidenreich (1904 - 1997) graduated from the Moravian College for Women in 1924. She was the daughter of Moravian ministers and missionaries. After college, Margaret taught at the Moravian School in Bluefields, Nicaragua where her father was serving as missionary pastor. After a few years, she decided to return to the United States for further schooling. Her science studies at Moravian helped her gain acceptance into the Kahler School of Nursing at the Mayo Clinic. She graduated in 1934, prepared for the career she had longed desired - as a nurse and missionary. 

Margaret soon learned of the need for a nurse at the newly established Bilwaskarma Clinic in Nicaragua. She began corresponding with Dr. A. David Thaeler, Jr. M.D., who had founded the clinic. His offer of support was both practical and prophetic. He wrote: “I don’t know where your salary will come from, but I’ll give you half of mine if you come.” In January 1935, Margaret arrived in Bilwaskarma. Three days later, she and the doctor were engaged, and on Valentine’s Day the following month, they were married in the village church. True to his promise, the doctor shared his salary with her. That same year, Dr. & Mrs. Thaeler also established a Nurses Training School, which went  on to graduate four to six registered nurses each year for at least the next 30 years the Thaelers spent in Bilwaskarma.

Margaret and David were a dynamic team, united by their love of the Lord, medicine, and music. David directed many choirs, while Margaret taught piano and other aspects of music. They worked side by side, even handling much of the maintenance work on the mission facilities themselves.  Their dedication was so great that during their thirty years in Nicaragua, they only took four full furloughs – most of which were spent pursuing continuing education.

Life in the mission field was full and demanding. In addition to raising their three children, Margaret had full responsibility for meals at the hospital – every day, seven days a week. Supplies were difficult to come by: meat was available only when local cattle were slaughtered, vegetables were scarce, so beans and rice formed the staple diet. 

Once the kitchen chores were finished, Margaret’s day was far from over. She taught classes in the Nurses’ Training School, visited patients, managed mending, laundry, and cleaning, plus when time allowed, tended flower beds and taught music lessons. 

Margaret was described as competent, capable, and tireless.  Her students regarded her as a remarkable instructor, second to none. In 1965, she was awarded the Moravian Comenius Award in recognition of her contributions to the nursing and medical missionary fields.

The Thaelers retired in December 1964 and moved into the Memorial Home Community that same month, where David became the Resident Physician. Margaret’s name is mentioned in many newspaper articles as having assisted with various campus activities.

December 1925

After the success of the resident-organized Thanksgiving fish fry, Mr. Penney gave a Christmas Dinner that included turkey with all the fixings and concluded with plum pudding. Seventy people sat down for that dinner.  There was a Christmas tree, and Dr. Eberle, a visitor from Cincinnati, appeared as Santa Claus. The tree was loaded with presents from Mr. Penney. There was a book for each home, plus a suitable gift for every man, woman and child. Everyone also received an apple, an orange and a bag of candy.