Maxine Simkins

Maxine E. Simkins, 94, of Cambridge, died peacefully on Friday, August 29, 2014, at Hammond-Henry Hospital Long Term Care, Geneseo.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 6 ^th , at the Cambridge Lutheran Church.  Rev. Randall Swanson will officiate.  Burial will be at Rosedale Cemetery, Cambridge. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.  Memorial may be made to the Cambridge Lutheran Church or Hillcrest Home.  Stackhouse-Moore Funeral Service, Cambridge, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Maxine Elizabeth Carlson was born August 27, 1920 in Munson Township, Henry County, Illinois, the daughter of Harry and Mabel Anderson Carlson.  She was educated in Cambridge area schools.  Her marriage to Harry “Dud” Simkins took place on June 17, 1939 in the Cambridge Lutheran parsonage.  He passed away on December 17, 1978.  Maxine found her niche in life cooking at the Cambridge Elementary School, retiring in 1990 after numerous years as the head cook.

Her memberships included the Cambridge Lutheran Church, the WELCA group of the church, the Cambridge Junior Women’s Club, and the Henry County Crime Stoppers.  Maxine’s greatest joys in life came from her family, her faith, and activities such as camping, shuffle board, bingo, and country music.

Those surviving are her daughters, Sandra (Gale) Casteel, Cambridge, Sharon (Lyle) Mulder, Panama, NE, Jill (Alan) Burger, Petaluma, CA, and Cheryl (Steve Autery) Drescher, Cambridge, 22 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 15 great great grandchildren.  Other survivors include a sister, Lucille Reid, Hampton, IL, and two special nieces, Barbara Hancock, Cambridge, and Cathy Sloneckers, Hampton, IL.  Her parents, her husband, a son, Harry “Butch” Simkins, two daughters, Sue Ann DeMay and Jackie Finin, three grandchildren, Lori and Todd DeMay, and Kevin Casteel, four brothers, Lloyd, Kenny, Stan, and Dale Carlson, and a sister, Florence Doye, preceded her in death.