Maxine May, 101, of Creston, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, at Creston Specialty Care. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Creston, with Fr. Patrick Amedeka, Celebrant. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Creston. Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center of Creston is in charge of arrangements. Family will receive friends 9:30–10:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, at the church, prior to the service.
Memorials may be directed to St. Malachy School, Creston. Memories and condolences may be left on-line at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Margaret “Maxine” May was born May 20, 1922, to Charles & Nora (McDonald) Vanderpluym in Diagonal. She graduated from Diagonal High School and then moved to Creston where she worked for the telephone company. While in Creston she met and married Carl May July 2, 1944. She traveled coast to coast as a Navy wife, allowing her to visit many new places. Two children, Patricia and John, were born to bless this union. The family relocated to the Great Lakes area where Carl retired from the Navy. They later divorced.
Maxine remained in the Chicago area, where she eventually retired in 1984 after working for the personnel office at the FAA base near Chicago, Illinois. After retirement Maxine moved back to Creston to be closer to her family. Maxine was a die-hard Cubs fan and was able to attend many games in Wrigley Field while living near Chicago.
She belonged to many different card clubs, as playing cards was one of her favorite activities. She was known for her competitive nature when it came to playing those games. Maxine was raised in the Catholic Church and was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Creston. Maxine’s family was extremely important to her. She especially treasured her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Left to cherish Maxine’s memory are her children: Pat (Merle) Lane of Creston and John (Laura) May of Gurnee, Illinois; grandchildren: Joanne Lane of West Des Moines, Christopher (Sarah) Lane of Creston, Matthew (Michelle) Lane of Bryon, Illinois, Scott Hightower of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Jaimie Rasmussen, Antioch, Illinois, and eight great-grandchildren.
Preceding Maxine in death were her parents and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pauline and Al Hill.