Maxine Mary Wilkinson Rolofson passed away peacefully on May 1, 2017. She was born June 17, 1915, the eldest of three daughters to Fred Lee and Samantha Clark Wilkinson.
Mrs. Rolofson met her future husband, Lyle Allen Rolofson Sr., while he was on duty in Southern Missouri prior to WW II and married him on March 27, 1937. They were happily married for 67 years until his death August 6, 2004.
Maxine had an abiding intellect, and was a constant student. She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and did her graduate work at the University of Nebraska. Throughout her life she was an avid reader, bridge player, gardener and took up swimming when she retired from teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Rolofson belonged to the Aldersgate Methodist Church of Lincoln, Nebraska, for many years before moving to San Antonio, Texas, to be near their daughter, where they joined Coker Methodist Church.
Mrs. Rolofson was an active Church Lady, a Golden Girl of P.E.O., an active member of Chapter DW, P.E.O. of San Antonio, Texas. While living in Lincoln she always played in the Lincoln Symphony Bridge League and with Lyle loved to travel visiting England, Spain, Hawaii and drove from Nebraska to California and back to Texas while in their late 70’s and early 80’s. They were quite the active twosome.
Maxine had “claims to fame” throughout her life but her favorite was being chosen as an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy for her work with the Lincoln School Systems English Curriculum spending many summers rewriting it and bringing it up to code.
Maxine will be remembered by her family and friends for her heart, her smile, her loving nature. Her grandchildren will remember the Christmases with the dessert table that was filled from the early morning until late at night and that “Gran” felt it was only right that every meal had dessert – even breakfast! Her chocolate chip cookies were cookies for the Gods! Not one grandchild ever went hungry at Gran’s. “We will miss Gran and love you to the moon and back.”
Mrs. Rolofson was proceeded in death by her husband Lyle Rolofson, Sr., her son William Elwyn (Jimmie), her son Lyle Rolofson, Jr., her sister Maureen Followill, and her mother and father Fred and Samantha Wilkinson. She is survived by her sister Jean Fay; daughter Jeanne Samaras (George); grandchildren Trey Rolofson (Kim), Robert Rolofson (Kathy), Chad Rolofson (Nichole), Jennifer Maurin, and Richard Gartner (Lorrain); bonus grandchildren Elizabeth Waring (Richard), Nick Samaras (Nancy), Eleni Allen (Chip); and great-grandchildren, Kyle, Cade, Julia, Kelsey, Grant, Drew, Chase, Elle, Kaya, Ryder Rolofson, Logan Maurin, Kaitlynn Gartner, Lily Waring, Valentina and Vivianna Samaras, and Laura and Chet Allen.
The family would like to thank the Varga family of Leon Springs, Texas, for their loving care they have given Maxine this past year. She was cared for and loved as family. No one could ask for more for their loved one. Alamo Hospice is to be admired for their dedicated service to Maxine. They were truly wonderful and her family thanks you so much.
Services will be held at the Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday, May 12, 2017, from 4 until 7 p.m. there will be a viewing and family visitation. Her funeral will be Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 10 a.m. with a luncheon to follow.
Maxine loved flowers. In her honor please send them to someone you love a lot or to a church or nursing home or temple or place of worship this next weekend for Mother’s Day May 14, 2017.
To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.ebensberger-fisher.com and select the obituaries tab.