VIDEO OF THE MAXINE L. IRWIN SERVICE

MAXINE L. IRWIN, 95 , of rural Washta, Iowa passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, October 1, 2021 at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen, Iowa.

Memorial services will be on Friday, October 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the Meadow Star Methodist Church at rural Washta, Iowa.  Pastor Berth Kayembe Lundula will officiate.  Burial of the cremains will take place in the Grand Meadow Cemetery.  Public visitation will be on Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa.  There will be a family prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening at the funeral home. The Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa is assisting the family with the arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com .

Maxine Louise Irwin was born on January 30, 1926 in Washta, Iowa to Wilfred and Ina (Hunter) Godfrey.  She attended and graduated from Grand Meadow Schools.  After graduation, she attended Western Union College and then taught third and fourth grade at her alma mater, Grand Meadow and Washta Schools.  She married her high school classmate, Kenneth Irwin on his return from the Navy, July 5, 1945, the first couple to be wed at Meadow Star Methodist Church.

She became a stay-at-home mom to raise her children and assist her husband with all of the farm work.  She enjoyed being a 4-H leader and Sunday School teacher.  She was a long-time member of Meadow Star Church, active in the United Methodist Women's group.

Maxine and Kenny enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and spent 22 winters in Texas.  She was a talented quilter and seamstress, loving her time spent in her ladies quilting group.  Maxine was an avid bird watcher and nature lover. She enjoyed gardening and was known for her special lime pickles. Maxine loved to put together puzzles and working on word search puzzles.

Maxine loved her family. She and Kenny took grandchildren on mission trips, to Bluegrass Festivals, and attended all of their sporting events and activities.  Her door was always open for friends and family to stop over and her fridge was stocked with iced tea and homemade cookies in the freezer ready to share.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law, Steve Schmillen; granddaughter, Sue Schmillen; great-granddaughter, Gemma Ladenthin; brother, Ralph Godfrey; sister Pauline Smith; brothers-in-law, Don Smith and Cecil Irwin; sisters-in-law, Beverly Godfrey, Beverly Irwin and Bonnie Irwin.

Maxine will be very lovingly remembered by her daughters, Ina Schmillen of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Ila (Jim) Overholt of Chandler, Arizona, Alayda (Phil) Ladenthin of Marcus, Iowa and son, Dr. Tom (Jan) Irwin of Cherokee, Iowa; 14 grandchildren, Michelle Clinton, Cyndi (Josh) Robirds, Sherry (Jim) Minge, Elisa (Jun) Overholt, Dr. Kari (Dr. Garry) Hayeck, Megan (Spencer) Roberts, Krista (Bryan) Dirks, Jason (Stephanie) Ladenthin, Scot (Colleen) Ladenthin, Melissa Kieling, Dr. Nathan Irwin, Jaclyn (Scott) Petersen, Dr. Allison (Dr. Derrick) Wilcox; 37 great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Dean Petersen of Cleghorn, Iowa; several nieces and nephews.