Max E. Whitlock (1921-2010)
WHITLOCK, WOLFINGER, EGERTSON, HEEREN, ARNOLD
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 6/6/2010 at 13:25:10
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, June 2, 2010.
Max E. Whitlock, 88, a longtime resident of Jewell, died Monday, May 31, 2010, at Stratford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Stratford. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell. Graveside services will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Jewell.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the church.
Max was born Sept. 14, 1921, in Corydon, to Marion and Ola (Wolfinger) Whitlock. At the age of 16, Max developed the mumps that affected his eyesight which left him blind. In 1941, he graduated from the Braille and Sight-Saving School at Vinton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1945 from Simpson College and did graduate work at both Drake and Iowa State universities.
He began his long and distinguished career in music as a band instructor at Clearfield School in Clearfield in 1945, Paton Consolidated School in Paton from 1946 to 1954, Jewell Consolidated School in Jewell, in 1954, which later became South Hamilton Community School where he continued to teach until he retired in 1989. His students received countless regional and state distinctions at solo and ensemble festivals, honor bands and all-state auditions. He influenced the lives of countless young people as their teacher, role model, mentor and overall inspiration.
He received many honors during his career. In 1961, he was chosen Iowa Rural Teacher of the Year, and in 1981, he was presented the title of Distinguished Bandmaster of America by the First Chair of America. The School Musician magazine featured him in the series “They Are Making America Musical” in 1982, the same year he received the first Karl L. King Memorial Distinguished Service Award, active by our Iowa Bandmasters Association. In 1989, he received the Bandworld Legion of Honor Award administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He received the Outstanding Music Educator Award in Section 4 by the National Foundation Interscholastic Music Association (1990) and the Simpson College Alumni Achievement Award (1991).
In honor of his retirement, the South Hamilton Band Alumni commissioned Frank Piersol to write a march titled “Maxie March,” which is published by Southern Music Company.
On June 24, 1956, he married Carolyn Egertson in Jewell.
He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Carolyn; three children, Mark (Mary) Whitlock, of Duluth, Minn., Julie (Rich) Heeren, of Stanhope, and Ross (Lois) Whitlock, of Hampton, Va. He also leaves nine grandchildren, Macaully, Meredith and Mayson Whitlock, of Duluth, Minn., Jason (Summer) Heeren, of Aurelia, Jennifer (Travis) Arnold, of Stanhope, and Samantha, Hannah, Amanda and David Whitlock, of Hampton, Va.; and one great-granddaughter, Anna Heeren, of Aurelia.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, North Central Iowa Bandmasters Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, Iowa Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Life Member of National Education Association and Iowa State Education Association.
His visual impairment prevented his serving in World War II. He had great respect for those who served and later in life honored them by playing “Taps” at their funerals and Memorial Day celebrations. Now “Taps” will be played for him.
Memorials may be designated to Bethesda Lutheran Church in Jewell, Stratford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center or Alzheimer’s Association.
Becker Funeral and Cremation Service of Jewell is caring for Max and his family
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