1920
Maxine
2009
Maxine L. LaFave
May 20, 1920 — March 28, 2009
Munising
Maxine L. LaFave entered into the arms of her heavenly Father Saturday evening, March 28, 2009 at Marquette General Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She had been in ill health for the past few months. Maxine was born a farmer's daughter in Clarinda, Iowa, the 10th of 11 children of Benjamin and Mary Welch. Maxine was always proud of her colonial heritage, her family being one of the first to settle in Annapolis, Maryland. She graduated from a one room school house in 1938 and then joined the Army Air Corp. Maxine attained the rank of sergeant and met her "Stowe" while serving in McAllen, Texas. He may have outranked her while in the service, but she outranked him for the next 63 years. They married on March 2, 1946 in the basement of Sacred Heart School in Munising because the Church had burned down in 1933. Maxine's wedding gown was made by Lillian Beatie from a silk parachute Stowe brought back from the Philippine's. She was a homemaker until all four children were in school and was then employed by Cox Cable and later by CYR Gas. Maxine unselfishly cared for her bedridden brother-in-law, Jack, for seven years. She was an eight year breast cancer survivor. Maxine was a member of St. Christopher's Church Circle and the Church Funeral Luncheon Committee. She enjoyed latch hook, playing cards and bingo with her daughters, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed baking her monster cookies, cinnamon rolls, and coffee cake for the Sunday morning coffee clutch at LaFave's house. Her son Larry, when in Vietnam, her children, grandchildren and their friends all looked forward to "Grandma's" cookie care packages.
Maxine and Stowe's marriage was such a great testament of love and devotion to family and each other; and it serves as a great example to us all.
Maxine is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lawrence "Stowe" LaFave; four children - Kay (Wayne) Dausey of Munising, Larry "Bounce" LaFave of Munising, Mary (David) Ward of Eau Claire, WI, and Bill (Jane) LaFave of Munising; twelve grandchildren, Jim (Michelle) Ward, Kristen (Ron) Bruder, Tricia (Brandon) Thatcher, Jon (Ashley) Ward, Mike (Richele) Dausey, Steve (Kristi) Dausey, Brenda (Christian) Souter, Andrea Dausey, Jeff Dausey, Brad LaFave, Brent LaFave, Evan LaFave; twenty one great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents and her ten sisters and brothers.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a parish vigil service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will conduct a mass of Christian burial on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in the spring where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors. Maxine will be escorted by her eight grandsons, and her four granddaughters will be honorary escorts.
Maxine's family would like to thank NorthWoods Home Health, Munising Memorial Hospital, and Marquette General Hospital for taking such good care of her while she was ill.
Donations may be made in Maxine's memory to Sacred Heart Church.
Maxine L. LaFave entered into the arms of her heavenly Father Saturday evening, March 28, 2009 at Marquette General Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She had been in ill health for the past few months. Maxine was born a farmer's daughter in Clarinda, Iowa, the 10th of 11 children of Benjamin and Mary Welch. Maxine was always proud of her colonial heritage, her family being one of the first to settle in Annapolis, Maryland. She graduated from a one room school house in 1938 and then joined the Army Air Corp. Maxine attained the rank of sergeant and met her "Stowe" while serving in McAllen, Texas. He may have outranked her while in the service, but she outranked him for the next 63 years. They married on March 2, 1946 in the basement of Sacred Heart School in Munising because the Church had burned down in 1933. Maxine's wedding gown was made by Lillian Beatie from a silk parachute Stowe brought back from the Philippine's. She was a homemaker until all four children were in school and was then employed by Cox Cable and later by CYR Gas. Maxine unselfishly cared for her bedridden brother-in-law, Jack, for seven years. She was an eight year breast cancer survivor. Maxine was a member of St. Christopher's Church Circle and the Church Funeral Luncheon Committee. She enjoyed latch hook, playing cards and bingo with her daughters, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed baking her monster cookies, cinnamon rolls, and coffee cake for the Sunday morning coffee clutch at LaFave's house. Her son Larry, when in Vietnam, her children, grandchildren and their friends all looked forward to "Grandma's" cookie care packages.
Maxine and Stowe's marriage was such a great testament of love and devotion to family and each other; and it serves as a great example to us all.
Maxine is survived by her husband of 63 years, Lawrence "Stowe" LaFave; four children - Kay (Wayne) Dausey of Munising, Larry "Bounce" LaFave of Munising, Mary (David) Ward of Eau Claire, WI, and Bill (Jane) LaFave of Munising; twelve grandchildren, Jim (Michelle) Ward, Kristen (Ron) Bruder, Tricia (Brandon) Thatcher, Jon (Ashley) Ward, Mike (Richele) Dausey, Steve (Kristi) Dausey, Brenda (Christian) Souter, Andrea Dausey, Jeff Dausey, Brad LaFave, Brent LaFave, Evan LaFave; twenty one great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents and her ten sisters and brothers.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a parish vigil service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will conduct a mass of Christian burial on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in the spring where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors. Maxine will be escorted by her eight grandsons, and her four granddaughters will be honorary escorts.
Maxine's family would like to thank NorthWoods Home Health, Munising Memorial Hospital, and Marquette General Hospital for taking such good care of her while she was ill.
Donations may be made in Maxine's memory to Sacred Heart Church.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Maxine L. LaFave, please visit our flower store.