Maxine Alice Von Spreecken Sept. 7, 1929-July 23, 2017


Maxine Alice Von Spreecken

Maxine Alice Von Spreecken

     Maxine Alice Von Spreecken, 87, of Anamosa and formerly of Onslow, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the Anamosa Care Center.

     A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 27, 2017 at Lahey Funeral Home in Wyoming, Iowa. Visitation will be 4:-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26. Burial - Wyoming Cemetery.

     Maxine was born to Leonard and Mara (Shirk) Calloway on Sept. 7, 1929 in Monmouth, Iowa. She attended country schools through eighth grade and graduated from Onslow High School in 1947. She married Robert John Von Spreecken on Feb. 25, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Maquoketa. Robert preceded her in death on Aug. 31, 2007.

     Maxine was employed by Bell Telephone Company for over three years in Maquoketa. She managed several farms with her husband during their 56-year marriage. She was employed seven years at the Center Junction Midland School in the 1970s. After her husband’s death, she moved to a home in Anamosa in August 2008.

     Maxine was a member of the Center Junction Presbyterian Church since 1951, belonged to the Center Junction Church Women’s Guild, head of church session for six years, and was a Sunday School teacher. She belonged to the Federated Women’s Club, local, county and district for 41 years. She and her husband Bob belonged to and were Charter Members of the Circle J Square Dancing club in Jones County for over 10 years. She was a newspaper correspondent for several newspapers for many years, and was a historian for the Center Junction 100-year History Book in 1971 for which she received commendation and a trophy for her work on the centennial. She also held all offices of the Midland Council of Churches Board since it started in 1986 until 2007. She was secretary and treasurer of South Mineral Cemetery Board for 26 years, member of Jones County Farm Bureau and 4-H leader for the South Sunshine Girls. Maxine was one of six finalists for Mother of the Year in Jones County in May 1969.

     Those left to cherish her memories are four children: Gregory (Melanie) Von Spreecken of Yangon, Myanmar, Joleen (Tim) Busch of Atkins, Brenda Von Spreecken of Anamosa, Sheila (Eric) Oliver of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren: Anthony Veit, Jonah (Brittany) Von Spreecken, Adam (Jenni) Von Spreecken, Tess (Nicholas) Walker, Eric (Fallon) Shakespeare; three great-grandchildren: Aidan and Avery Veit, and Piper Shakespeare; four step-great-grandchildren: Vivian, Amelia, Thomas and Cooper Lappenbusch; two sisters Vivian Moran of California and Carol Matthews of Florida, and brother George “Mike” Calloway of Anamosa.

     Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert, half-brother James Holmes, three brothers-in-law Donald Hay, Harold Eggers and John Moran, her sister Marilyn Eggers and sister-in-law Vivian Calloway.

     Maxine’s family will donate memorials in her honor, including Camp Courageous, American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Association and the Anamosa Care Center.

     Online condolences may be submitted for the family at www.laheys.com.

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