Maxine Shaller

Maxine Elizabeth (Bookwalter) Shaller died peacefully at home on Saturday, May 3, 2014.
Born on February 6, 1921 and raised in the farm lands of Nebraska, Maxine left home in the mid-1940s to follow her dreams in Southern California, where she met and fell in love with Delmont Shaller, a young Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. After the war, in 1946, the two were married and moved to South Bend, Indiana, so that Del could complete his studies at Notre Dame. They settled in nearby Mishawaka, where Maxine devoted her considerable talents to providing nourishment for body, mind and soul to her husband and three sons. In 1971, the couple made the first of several moves in conjunction with Del's career in nuclear engineering. They spent wonderful years together in St. Joseph, Michigan, Atlanta, Georgia, and in Columbus, Ohio. In all of these cities, Maxine enjoyed a robust social life centered on dear friends, neighbors and the local church community. She worked outside the home as a medical secretary for many years, but the focus of her boundless energy and enthusiasm was always her husband and sons. In retirement Maxine and Del returned to Atlanta and remained there until moving to Stillwater, Minnesota in 2012 to be near family. Maxine's 25 years in Atlanta were clearly her heyday, as she developed and nurtured a wide circle of friends with whom she both reveled in worldly pleasures and devoted much time to service in her beloved Sandy Springs Christian Church as a gifted story teller and faithful volunteer. She was also active in the wider community, serving with the Stephen Ministries and as a volunteer with the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital Auxiliary. Maxine loved golfing, dancing and maintaining a sparkling home, and she found joy in many things - a medium rare filet mignon, a dry martini, a well-told off color joke, high heel shoes. She was the picture of fashion and elegant style. She loved to entertain and was surpassingly good at it. Above all, she took joy in the loving embrace of her husband and partner of sixty-eight years.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents Fred and Mamie (Kreuchi) Bookwalter and sisters Gertrude Braddock (Virgil) and Betty Jean Bookwalter. She is survived by her husband, Delmont, their three sons Terry (Kathleen Rogers), Rick (Kathy), and Dale (Jenni); grandchildren Jon Shaller (Vanessa), Elizabeth Vandre (Eric), Max Shaller, Claire Shaller (fiance Michael Bjork), Sarah Shaller, and Ryan Shaller; and great grandchildren Sydney, Ella, and Jack Shaller. A celebration of her life will take place among family and friends in Atlanta at an appropriate time in the future. A small family service will be held on May 13 in Stillwater. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a donation in her name either to Sandy Springs Christian Church or to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Maxine's family thanks the Boutwells Landing staff for their warmth and skill in welcoming her and Del to Minnesota and the extraordinary caregivers of Lakeview Hospice for the immeasurable comfort and reassurance they brought to her and her loved ones.