Maxine Lance Sickels February 6, 1908 – March 18, 2011
Maxine Lance was born February 6, 1908 to William Ellsworth and Eliza Hobbs Lance at the family home in Hume, Missouri. She was welcomed by eight-year-old brother Leo and was joined by sister Fern in 1911. In 1922 a four-year-old nephew, Clark Kenney, came to be their beloved little brother.
Maxine passed away March 18, 2011 at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center in Mount Ayr, Iowa at the age of 103 years.
Maxine enjoyed school and attended country school for eight years and graduated with the class of 1925 from Mount Ayr high school. She attended Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls taking a special one-year course for rural teachers. She then taught for three years.
She was married to Cecil Sickels on December 18, 1928 in the Mount Ayr Methodist parsonage attended by friends Floyd Laird and Beth Eason. Cecil and Maxine were married for 62 years until Cecil’s death on May 5, 1990.
Four sons were born to this union, Gene, Bill, Lynn and Mack. Later their family was joined by a teenager, Richard Walter, who remained a part of the family for more than 50 years.
In 1944 when the war left their country school, Mountain Brush, without a teacher, Maxine dusted off her teaching certificate and went back to work teaching for the next eight years. She continued as a substitute teacher in the local schools for several more years.
Maxine became a member of the Eureka Methodist Church as a teenager. She later joined the Kellerton Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for more than 25 years. She also served in several different offices in W.S.C.S. while a church member there. In 1977 she joined the Mount Ayr Methodist Church.
Maxine enjoyed her yard, garden and flower beds. She enjoyed reading books and loved to write.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; son, Lynn; brother, Leo; sister, Fern Thompson; daughter-in-law, Marjorie Sickels, and Richard and Barbara Walter.
Those left to cherish her memory include her three sons and their spouses, Gene and wife Barbara of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Bill and wife Anne of Brenham, Texas and Mack and wife Phyllis of Mount Ayr, Iowa; daughters-in-law, Janet Jackson of Creston, Iowa and Peggy Walter of Indianola, Iowa; grandchildren and their children, Dave Sickels, Adam, Alex and one great-great-granddaughter, Lily; Tom Sickels and wife Jane, Mathew; Perry Stanley and wife Kristen, Zack and Beth; Debra Lundy, Tyler and Aaron; Mickael and wife Amanda, Taylor, Hunter, Zeke, Hope, Avery and Cali; Amy Beth Osborn and husband Tim, Evan and Sabrina; Vicki Osland and husband Scott, Zach Schuler, Joni Kirk and husband Dave and Emily Zrgenbright; John and wife Missy, Jami, Josie and Molly; Julie Pew, Jessie and Gaven; Jim Sickels and wife Tamie, Gabe, Zane, Jack, Maci Clare and Zeke; Laura Edain and husband Hason; David Walter and wife Jody, Luke, and other family and friends.
A memorial fund has been established to the Mount Ayr Public Library in Maxine’s name.
Services were held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Monday, March 21, 2011, with Rev. Ed Shields officiating. Organist was Nancy Sackett.
Casket bearers included Larry Sickels, Bob Sickels, Ron Sickels, Mike Sickels, Tom Sickels and Jim Sickels.
Maxine was laid at rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr
Maxine passed away March 18, 2011 at the Mount Ayr Health Care Center in Mount Ayr, Iowa at the age of 103 years.
Maxine enjoyed school and attended country school for eight years and graduated with the class of 1925 from Mount Ayr high school. She attended Teacher’s College in Cedar Falls taking a special one-year course for rural teachers. She then taught for three years.
She was married to Cecil Sickels on December 18, 1928 in the Mount Ayr Methodist parsonage attended by friends Floyd Laird and Beth Eason. Cecil and Maxine were married for 62 years until Cecil’s death on May 5, 1990.
Four sons were born to this union, Gene, Bill, Lynn and Mack. Later their family was joined by a teenager, Richard Walter, who remained a part of the family for more than 50 years.
In 1944 when the war left their country school, Mountain Brush, without a teacher, Maxine dusted off her teaching certificate and went back to work teaching for the next eight years. She continued as a substitute teacher in the local schools for several more years.
Maxine became a member of the Eureka Methodist Church as a teenager. She later joined the Kellerton Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for more than 25 years. She also served in several different offices in W.S.C.S. while a church member there. In 1977 she joined the Mount Ayr Methodist Church.
Maxine enjoyed her yard, garden and flower beds. She enjoyed reading books and loved to write.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; son, Lynn; brother, Leo; sister, Fern Thompson; daughter-in-law, Marjorie Sickels, and Richard and Barbara Walter.
Those left to cherish her memory include her three sons and their spouses, Gene and wife Barbara of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Bill and wife Anne of Brenham, Texas and Mack and wife Phyllis of Mount Ayr, Iowa; daughters-in-law, Janet Jackson of Creston, Iowa and Peggy Walter of Indianola, Iowa; grandchildren and their children, Dave Sickels, Adam, Alex and one great-great-granddaughter, Lily; Tom Sickels and wife Jane, Mathew; Perry Stanley and wife Kristen, Zack and Beth; Debra Lundy, Tyler and Aaron; Mickael and wife Amanda, Taylor, Hunter, Zeke, Hope, Avery and Cali; Amy Beth Osborn and husband Tim, Evan and Sabrina; Vicki Osland and husband Scott, Zach Schuler, Joni Kirk and husband Dave and Emily Zrgenbright; John and wife Missy, Jami, Josie and Molly; Julie Pew, Jessie and Gaven; Jim Sickels and wife Tamie, Gabe, Zane, Jack, Maci Clare and Zeke; Laura Edain and husband Hason; David Walter and wife Jody, Luke, and other family and friends.
A memorial fund has been established to the Mount Ayr Public Library in Maxine’s name.
Services were held at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Monday, March 21, 2011, with Rev. Ed Shields officiating. Organist was Nancy Sackett.
Casket bearers included Larry Sickels, Bob Sickels, Ron Sickels, Mike Sickels, Tom Sickels and Jim Sickels.
Maxine was laid at rest in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr
