Maxine P. Alwes, 93, of Normal and formerly of rural Bloomington, passed away at 11:45 a.m. Saturday (Feb. 4, 2012) at Heritage Health, Normal.
Her service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, Danvers. The Rev. Frank Zimmerman will be officiating. Burial will be at Park Lawn Cemetery, Danvers. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Otto-Argo-Calvert Memorial Home, Danvers, and from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, Danvers.
The family suggests memorials be made to Zion Lutheran Church, Danvers, Advocate Home Health and Hospice Services or Carlock Fire and Rescue Squad.
Maxine was born Jan. 1, 1919, in Normal, the daughter of Chester and Nina Shoemaker Augustine. She married Earl H. Alwes on Sept. 2, 1939, in Saybrook. He passed away Dec. 30, 2011.
Surviving are four children, JoMar Alwes, Las Vegas; Marvin (Joy) Alwes, Maribel, Wis.; Joanne (Woody) Wilson, Green Bay, Wis.; and Janet (Lynn) Smith, Madison, Wis.; four grandchildren, JoEllyn (Steve) Pfeilstifter, Racine, Wis.; Lynette (Matt) Kutz, Maribel, Wis.; Julie (John) Nikolanci, Bloomington; and Jolene (Lee) Neuhauser, Eureka; and seven great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and many very special aunts, uncles and cousins.
Maxine lived her whole life in the Carlock area. Her mother died when Maxine was five months old. She was raised by her father, grandmother and aunt.
Maxine graduated from Brown’s Business College and worked at State Farm prior to marrying Earl.
In 1946, Maxine and Earl purchased a farm from Louis King, Maxine’s uncle. In 2014, this farm will have been in the family for 150 years. Maxine was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, Garfield School Club and McLean County Home Extension. She was a devoted wife to Earl for 72 years. She was loved and respected by her family and led her life as an example of Christian values. She could handle life’s hard knocks with smiles and laughter and find the good in any person or situation. Everyone was always welcome in Maxine’s kitchen.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Heritage Health and Advocate Home Health and Hospice Services for their loving care of our parents and family.
