Maxine Switzer (1909-2002)

SWITZER

Posted By: Patrick Turner (email)
Date: 2/1/2003 at 21:58:25

Thursday, March 21, 2002

Shelby

In Memory: Maxine McCune Switzer

Maxine Loucile McCune Switzer, 92, March 16, 2002 at the Elm Crest Retirement Community.

She was born on October 2, 1909 near Defiance, Iowa, one of six children in the family of Andrew and Linnie Felt Weiss.

When Maxine was twelve years old, the family moved to Shelby. She graduated from Shelby High School in 1927, attended Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota for one year and then transferred to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where she graduated in 1931. At Lincoln, Maxine was active in drama, Zeta Tau Sorority, Lincoln A Cappella Choir and Tassels, the UNL cheerleading organization.

Maxine married Donald J. McCune on January 30, 1937 in Harlan. For a time they were the foster parents to two brothers, Roger and Jerry Friend. Max and Don operated the hardware store in Shelby for many years.

In 1969, Maxine married H.R. (Lefty) Switzer at Marshalltown. They made their home in Council Bluffs. Maxine moved to the Elm Crest Retirement Apartments in Harlan in 1992. She was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan. In 1997 she became a resident of the Elm Crest Retirement Community after suffering a stroke.

She was a retired English teacher, having taught in Puerto Rico, 3 years at Minden, Iowa and 14 years at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. She was a lifetime member of the NEA. Maxine love to walk, dance, have a good time and enjoy life. She had a great sense of humor. She was also interested in politics.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; a sister, Bette Klein; and a stillborn brother. Survivors include her sisters, Marcella and her husband George Jones of Omaha, Rona Murdaugh of Carlsbad, California; a brother, A. O. (Sunny) Weiss and his wife Lavina of Atlantic; a brother-in-law, Jerry Klein of Bend, Oregon; a stepdaughter, Sally Malloy and her friend John of Grimes; a stepson, Larry Switzer and his wife Carol of Coral Springs, Florida; 3 step grandchildren; 4 step great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral ceremonies were held Tuesday afternoon at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan with the Rev. John H. Rozendaal officiating. Interment was in Shelby Cemetery at Shelby.