MAKINSTER, Michelle (Chastaing) "Mickette" 1931-2016

MAKINSTER, CHASTAING

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 4/11/2017 at 13:02:37

Services:
Memorial Services: Monday, June 6, 2016 at St. Edward Catholic Church

Visitation:
Sunday June 5, 2016 at Locke Funeral Home

Cemetery:
Inurnment in Mount Olivet Cemetery at a later date

Memorials:
Western Home Communities
Cedar Valley Hospice
Cedar Bend Humane Society

Biography--

Michele "Mickette" Chastaing Makinster, 85, of Willowwood of the Western Home Communities, Cedar Falls, and formerly of Waterloo, died at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, after a brief illness.

Michele Makinster was born in Reims, France on January 30, 1931. She was one of five children born to Emma and Pierre Chastaing. Raised in the heart of Champagne, she cut her teeth on the likes of Veuve Clicquot, Mumms, and Piper-Heidsieck. Literally growing up in the shadows of the great cathedral Notre Dame de Reims (or in her words, “my cathedral”) she was baptized and received her first communion and confirmation sacraments bathed in the magical light of the famous stained glass windows, many of which were damaged in World War I, and later designed by Marc Chagall.

With the Nazi occupation of World War II, Mickette, with her mother and siblings fled her hometown and became refugees in southwest France, moving when they needed to or when there was another place to stay. Food was very hard to come by, and she remembers vividly eating sugar beets during their travels at this time. They often paid for room and board by doing various jobs, at one point even tending a small flock of sheep.
In 1944, Russell “Mak” Makinster, a young American GI, was injured in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest. After spending months in an English hospital recovering from his injuries, he found himself stationed in Reims, France. Mak worked with the Army Transportation Corp guarding a German prisoner in a section of an apartment building now used as American military offices.

Perhaps not a “meet cute”, it was destiny nonetheless. Language was no barrier; Mickette’s formal English lessons in school were coupled with even better teachers - Ozzie and Harriet on the radio – and that’s all it took. When Mak left France in March 1946 he left an engaged man.

On June 26, 1947, Mickette arrived in the United States, marrying Mak and honeymooning in New York (going to her first baseball game) and Coney Island. Once in Waterloo, she was welcomed by the extended Makinster family. What may have begun as an intimidating introduction quickly turned into a family of her own, and she didn’t wait long to add to that family tree starting with Frank, Ann Marie (deceased), John, Robert, Peggy, and Suzanne. All by the ripe old age of 27!

A large family suited Mickette. They enjoyed a variety of family outings including camping (REAL camping, in a tent) at Beed’s Lake, Okoboji, George Wyth, and Backbone State Park. Every year they spent two weeks on the road visiting places like Massachusetts (to visit her sister and her family), Wisconsin Dells, the Minnesota lakes, Black Hills, and the Ozarks. Sundays were devoted to family and she made her big meal of the week. Oftentimes Mickette would buy a 10 pound bag of potatoes to make her famous homemade French fries, and was well known for her skills handling up to four pans at a time flipping crepes for family.

Starting at an early age attending French operettas with her mother, Mickette loved music of all types – jazz, rock-n-roll, opera, and classical. From Sidney Bechet to Bruce Springsteen she was known for her calm demeanor and perpetual humming which always announced her arrival. Her love of American music included swing music and she attended 10 Springsteen concerts. In fact at the time of her passing she had tickets to see Huey Lewis and the News this summer.

Mickette spent seven years living in the Willowwood apartments at Western Home Communities and enjoyed Wii bowling, winning several trophies. She volunteered at Western Home for over 13 years helping with resident birthday bingo. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, crafting, and shopping, as only a fashionable French woman could. An avid recycler and humanitarian, Mickette’s gentle touch, gentle spirit, and her soft-hearted nature were not only a positive influence on her children but on all those who knew her. We will miss her.

Survived by her son, Frank (Karen) Makinster of Cedar Falls; son, John (Barbara) Makinster of Poway, CA; son, Robert (Jeri) Makinster of Rockford, IA; daughter, Peggy Makinster of Waterloo; daughter, Suzanne Makinster of Waterloo; a granddaughter, Hayley Makinster of London, England; sister, Monique (John) Campo of Bridgewater, MA; brother-in-law, Richard (Wilma) Makinster of Marion, brother-in-law, Wayne Spear of Longmont, CO; and sister-in-law, Denyse Chastaing of Longuyon, France.

Preceded in death by her parents; husband; a daughter, Anne Marie; a brother, Jean Chastaing; infant sister, Jeanne Chastaing; a sister, Reine (Guy) DeLange; and sisters-in-law, Kay Johnson and Bette Spear.

Source: Locke Funeral Home