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Maxine Wheeler, 91, of Lorimor, died Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Greenfield Manor.
A Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at the Macksburg United Methodist Church. Pastor Gene Hinrichsen will officiate. The service will be livestreamed, found under events at powersfh.com. The burial will be in the Moon Cemetery, south of Macksburg. Open visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family to be determined later. Online condolences may be given at the tribute wall at www.powersfh.com
Maxine Ardith Wheeler, daughter of Ralph Fremont Young and Bernice Irene (Kirkland) Young, was born March 6, 1933, in rural Adair County. She graduated from Macksburg High School in 1951.
On May 27, 1951, Maxine was united in marriage to Lee Junior Wheeler on Maxine’s parents farm in rural Union County. Married just a few days after their high school graduation, Maxine and Junior were back home farming after the ceremony. The couple settled on the Wheeler family farm, south of Macksburg, where they enjoyed 70 years together.
Maxine was happily a lifelong farm wife and homemaker. Her husband Junior always said he married a “hired hand” as much as a wife. Maxine’s love of her family and friends was even greater than her pride in the Wheeler Century Farm. In addition to farming, she worked for Delta making remote control car parts, Banks Floral in Winterset and Bunn Manufacturing in Creston.
Her cooking and baking skills were enjoyed by the family and friends, especially her famous beef and noodles. Maxine was known for making and decorating countless wedding, anniversary and birthday cakes for five generations of her family and many friends. Her artistic talents also included sewing and crocheting, as well as painting.
Avid square dancers, Maxine and Junior were longtime members of the WinterSets Square Dance Club and they loved camping at the Iowa State Fair with family. Maxine attended every state fair since 1953. She participated in the Macksburg Garden Club, enjoyed card parties and family reunions.
She is survived by her three sons, Randy (Jill) Wheeler of Ankeny, Keith (Julie) Wheeler of Winterset and Troy (Jenny) Wheeler of Lorimor; daughter Debbie (Rick) Gripp of Creston; granddaughter-in-law Theresa Wheeler of Ankeny; sister Myrtle Bailey of Altoona; brother-in-law Bruce Rowe of Glendale, Arizona; 12 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; husband Junior; two brothers, Dale and Phil Young; infant sister Lois Young and grandson Bryan Wheeler.