MONROE, Maxine Margaret
MONROE, CURTIS, BARROWS
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/1/2017 at 08:25:36
Obituary ~ Maxine Margaret (Barrows) Monroe
December 23, 1929 - December 13, 2016On a beautiful fall day and very much at peace, Maxine Monroe ended her life’s eventful journey in her home in Leon, Iowa on the 13th day of December at the age of 86.
Her life journey began on a cold 290 wintery day in an apartment in Chicago, Illinois as the third child of Malcolm and Ila (Curtis) Barrows; the date was December 23, 1929. The family moved around quite a bit, as government families do, settling in Denver Colorado where she graduated from high school in 1947.
While visiting relatives in Lamoni Iowa in 1945, Maxine went on a blind date where she met Dick (Richard) Monroe which led to a long distance romance. After her high school graduation, Maxine enrolled at Graceland College and Dick enlisted in the US Navy. In August of 1949. they decided to get married and started their married life in Seattle Washington. After serving one tour of duty, Dick and Maxine moved to Iowa where Dick returned to work with Hy-Vee eventually leading the family to Leon in 1974.
Maxine and Richard were happily married for over 65 years and had a total of five children.
Maxine was devoted to family, friends, community and her church. She worked as the book keeper at the Hy-Vee store in Leon for thirteen years and was a member of countless organizations over the 40 odd years she lived in the community including city council in the 1980’s, Unity Club and PEO. She was a member of the Loving Chapel United Methodist Church.
She made the decision many years ago to donate her body to University of Iowa Department of Anatomy, an indication of her dedication to the pursuit of science and education.
Maxine lost the love of her life, her husband Dick, a bit over a year ago. She is also preceded in death by her son, Stan, two older brothers, Chuck and Gene as well as her parents. She is survived by her younger sister, Lois Hillman of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
The family carries on with the other four children, Don, Janet, Susan and James, six grandchildren, Marc, Eric, Melissa, Nathan, Dylan and Joel, and five great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank all those who made it possible for Mom to stay in her home as she so fervently wished.
Memorial services were held Friday, December 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Loving Chapel United Methodist Church, Leon, Iowa. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Lamoni, Iowa.
Slade - O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni is in charge of arrangements.
SOURCE: sladefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Maxine-Margaret-Monroe?obId=1246529#/obituaryInfo
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2016
Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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