Maxine I. Nelson, 95, of Oakley, died Thursday January 30, 2014. She was born August 19, 1918 to Guy and Clara (Whan) Moritz in Villisca, Iowa. She moved with her family from Iowa to Kansas when she was two years old. Shortly after arriving in Kansas her father was killed in an accident at Campus and her mother decided to stay in Kansas to raise her family. Times were hard for the family but it was a great learning experience for all of the family. After graduation from Oakley High School in 1938 she worked as a waitress at the Kauffman House Restaurant before she married Everett “Bus” Nelson and had two daughters. She became a full time homemaker until her husband’s death when she went to work for “Doc” Beckman at the Oakley Cleaners for almost 40 years. She enjoyed reading, word puzzles and Visiting with friends and family. Maxine “Grandma” was the maker of a special Apple Salad that her family and extended family looked forward to on Thanksgiving and Christmas, as that was the only time she made this special dish. She was an avid KU basketball fan and never missed watching a game. She also never missed listening to the Arnberger great grandson’s football, basketball and wrestling on the radio. She enjoyed bowling and attended many state bowling tournaments. People would comment on that wicked left hand of hers. She was a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church and Oakley V.F.W Auxiliary.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson Curtis Arnberger; brothers, Earl, Merle, Elmo, Everett, Marvin “Chub” and Lester “Swede”; sister, Bernice and an infant sister, Fran.
She is survived by her daughters, Janice (Francis “Babe”) Arnberger, Oakley, Gail (Leon) Wegele, Leander, TX; grandchildren, Blake (Kathy) Arnberger, Colby, Corey (Monica) Wegele, Frisco, TX and Stacey (Jason) Rearick, Carmel, IN; nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 4-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley, with family present from 5-7:00pm. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 6, 2014 at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley. Memorials are suggested to Logan County Manor or Oakley United Methodist Church in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. Online condolences: www.baalmannmortuary.com