Margaret Neader

Margaret Neader was a preeminent representative of radio in La Crosse. Most of her time was spent behind the scenes making a difference in broadcasting and her community.

Neader was born in Chicago in 1935 and started her career in broadcasting in 1955 when she became an executive secretary at the ABC-TV network as part her effort to become a television actress. There she worked with the likes of Dick Clark. She also met her future husband, Scott, whom she married in 1963. After raising two sons, she restarted her career at KORN/KXON-TV in Mitchell, South Dakota, where she worked in sales and hosted her own show named “Margie’s People.”

In 1977 she moved to La Crosse where she worked in broadcast sales and management at WLXR, WKBH, and the WIZM family of stations. She was also the local marketing director for Heileman Brewing Company.

After she retired, she returned to work at Mid-West Family as a receptionist for many years and was loved by all her co-workers.

Neader was known for her honesty, integrity, and marketing abilities. She was a listener and took time getting to know people. She served as a mentor for young salespeople, and connected with them personally, offering them advice.

“Advice from Margie was usually gospel,” Family Radio National Sales Manager Dick Record said. “She was important to the everyday life of our radio stations.”

Neader gave her time to her church and community groups. She served as director of the La Crosse YMCA, on the La Crosse Jail Ministry Board, and the committee of the La Crosse County American Red Cross. She prepared meals for the Salvation Army “Feed the Kids” program every year. She spent more than 20 years teaching Sunday school and visiting parishioners who were in nursing homes or home bound.

She was also dedicated to her two sons, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren.

She died in July 2017. She was 81.