Maxine Aspegren

A funeral service for Maxine Aspegren will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Wilcox United Methodist Church in Wilcox, Nebraska with Pastor Candance Miller officiating. Interment will follow at the Wilcox Cemetery.

Maxine May Aspegren, 103 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, formerly of Wilcox, passed away on Monday, August 21, 2023 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege.  Maxine was born on April 28, 1920, in a sod house, in eastern McPherson County, Nebraska, near Ringgold, Nebraska, the third child of Oscar and May (Holmberg) Tupper. In 1927, her father was tragically killed in a farm accident.  Her mother continued to raise four children and keep the ranch during the depression.

When Maxine was about 12 years old, she started taking piano lessons through a correspondence course via the mail.  A traveling salesman came to the house and had a used piano on his truck.  Maxine sold a cow to her brother for $20, to help pay for the piano.  As long as she was playing the piano, her mother would let her out of doing chores.  She also played for the local church for quite a while.

Maxine attended country school District #16.  The one room school house was about two miles from her home.  She either rode a horse or walked to school.  On Sundays, the same building was used for church service.  After 8th grade, she attended Stapleton Baker Rural High School and graduated with the class of 1937.

Following graduation, Maxine attended Kearney State Teachers College during the summers and taught at various one room schools in McPherson and Lincoln Counties, during the school year.  Her salary was $50 a month to start with and rising to $70 by 1942. In 1940, Maxine borrowed some money from Mike David, a store owner from Tryon.  She purchased six cows and even had her own brand.  In 1943, she drove to Los Angeles, California, with her brother, sister, and cousin. She worked in the shipyards during World War II, where part of her job included making fuel containers for B-51 Bombers.

After the war ended, Maxine came back to Nebraska and got a teaching job at Pleasant View School, south of Wilcox.  In March of 1946, Maxine agreed to a blind date, set up by Harold Stuehm, with Russell Aspegren who had recently returned from WWII.

On June 8, 1947, she was united in marriage to Russell Aspegren in North Platte, Nebraska and to this union, they were blessed with four children: Roger, Elwin, Marlene, and Leland. The family made their home and engaged in farming on the Aspegren farm near Wilcox, until Russell's passing in 1974.  Maxine continued to live on the farm until she began to make her home at Christian Homes Care Community in 2013.

Maxine loved to travel. Her trips to Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington D.C., were some of the most memorable. She was also proud to have traveled to all 50 states. Maxine was a 4-H leader for many years and also enjoyed crafting, sewing, gardening and music. She had a passion for genealogy and put together four family history books through the years. Maxine also cherished time spent with extended family and planned many family reunions.

Those that knew Maxine, knew the most important things in her life were her family and her faith. She enjoyed family time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family being together at Christmas was always the highlight of the year! The "Aspegren Motel" was always open and welcome to family and friends, and the grandchildren could always count on a "Ho-Ho" before they left!

Maxine was baptized and confirmed in 1947, at the Wilcox United Methodist Church and was a dedicated member for over 70 years, until her passing. She served faithfully in many capacities, including a past Sunday school teacher, the treasurer for 35 years, a willing volunteer for any project or committee, and also held many offices in the United Methodist Women.  Maxine was also a member of the NON Club, the Jolly Homemaker Club, and the Craft Club.

She will be remembered for her generous, loving heart; her contagious smile; and her love for Jesus. Above all, Maxine has left a tremendous legacy of love to her family, and friends.

Besides her husband, and parents, Maxine was preceded in death by step-father, George Dickson; two sisters: Darlene Waits and her husband, Lee; and Dorothy Mote and her husband, Rev. James Mote; brother, Donald Tupper and his wife, Ardenia; brother-in-law, Robert Aspegren and his wife, Lois; sister-in-law, Dorothy Maxine Aspegren; and a nephew, Wayne Waits.

Maxine leaves to celebrate her life, her children: Roger Aspegren and his wife, Sheryl of Mountain Grove, Missouri; Elwin Aspegren of Falls Church, Virginia; Marlene Lewis and her husband, Kevin of Hastings, Nebraska; and Leland Aspegren and his wife, Marilee of Wilcox; 12 grandchildren: Kari (Michael) Toews; Kelly Pinson; Bonnie (Brad) Virtue; Megan (Jordan) Jurgens; Rick Aspegren; Kyle Lewis; Morgan (Jordon) Pearson; Samantha (Tyler) Goetz; Courtney (Nick) Trausch; Shelby (Alex) Ewert; McKenzie (Austin) Aubushon; and Lance Aspegren; 22 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Maxine's honor, and kindly suggested to the Wilcox United Methodist Church or to Grandma's Snack Pack.

A special thank you to the staff at Christian Homes Care Community for providing such wonderful care to Maxine through the years.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Wilcox is in charge of the arrangements.