Maxine Engels

Maxine Engels, 89, of Rockford, Iowa, passed away Thursday, January 25, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa.

A Funeral Mass for Maxine Engels was held Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Rockford, Iowa, with Monsignor Walter Brunkan as celebrant. 

Burial was at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford, Iowa.

Maxine Verna (Kramer) Engels, the daughter of John and Theresa (Reis) Kramer, was born on Feb. 6, 1928 in Rockford, Iowa. 

She attended country school, St. Mary’s School at Roseville, and graduated from Marble Rock High School in 1945. 

After high school, she met John Engels at a church dance. They were united in marriage on Oct. 29, 1947 at St. Mary’s Church in Roseville, Iowa. This started a more than 50-year love affair that blessed them with 12 children.

Maxine worked side by side with her husband, John, through many business ventures. Later in life she worked for Cashwise Foods and Unisys in Clear Lake. 

In her retirement, Maxine volunteered for the SOAR program, an afterschool program at Rockford Elementary.

Maxine was an active member of the Altar Rosary Society and Holy Name Catholic Church. 

She enjoyed playing solitaire; doing crafts, especially ceramics; painting and restoring statues. Maxine loved being involved with her family, especially her grandchildren and attended many of their events.

Living family members include nine children: Gerald Engels of Fayette and children Shawn, Kendra, Kimberly, Alessandra, Adriana, Julian and Roxanna; Connie Engels-Weigmann and husband Robert of Marble Rock and children Robert, Jennifer, Julie, Jacque, and Dianne; daughter-in-law Debra A. Engels of Mason City and children Jason, Alan, Carson, Serena, Mikayla and Weston; Tom and wife Corky of Rockford and children, Christy, Joseph, Kathy, Anthony, Elizabeth and Nathaniel; Bob and wife Deb of Rockford and children, Angie, Erin, Andrea and Dan; Mary Litterer and husband Russ of Rockford and children Matt, Jim, Bill and Anne; Jim of Rockford and children Eric, Marc and Gregory; Pat’s children Jessica, Amanda, Virginia, Brenda, Christopher and Maria; Annette Schwantes and husband Jack of Rockford and children Issac, Jackelyn and Isaiah; Patty Engels of Rockford; Donna Engels-Jones and husband Dean of Rockford and children Johnathon, Theresa, and Justice; spouses and families of grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and sisters-in-law Beulah Kramer and Helen Engels; and numerous other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Theresa (Reis) Kramer; husband John; daughter Janet; sons John and Pat; granddaughter Barbara; great-grandson Derick Wharton; and brother Ronald Kramer.

Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City was in charge of local arrangements.