Maxine Schall

Maxine L. Schall was a talented, loving and caring wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a friend to all who knew her and will be greatly missed.

The year 1923 was a year that epitomized the roaring twenties. As Bessie Smith recorded her first hit "Down-Hearted Blues", Harlem 's famous "Cotton Club" was swinging with the bluesy tunes of the legendary Lena Horne and Cab Calloway. Although music filled the air, and the United States was at peace, it still faced many political challenges. It was in that historic year that President Warren G. Harding fell ill when returning from a trip to Alaska and passed away suddenly. Despite the many events of 1923, to Margaret Schrengost and Francis Kinter, the best thing that happened that year was the November 2nd birth of their daughter, Maxine.

Maxine was the second of four children that already included a sister, Florentine. Later, brothers Robert and William would make the family complete. Having been raised by her mother in a single-parent home during the Depression, times were tough for everyone. Because money was scarce, there was very little entertainment available for families. Luckily, Maxine had the privilege of growing up in a tight-knit family; together, she, her friends, and her brothers and sisters would make their own fun. Often they would hang around the railroad station and occasionally they would take the train about fifteen miles to Kittanning where they would spend the day looking for fun. Although Maxine spent many childhood days hanging around with her brothers and sister, she quickly learned to balance her fun with schoolwork. As a young girl, Maxine began her academic career at Echo Elementary School before continuing at Dayton Vocational High School. A good student, and at a time when many young girls were dropping out of school after the eighth grade, Maxine continued her education and graduated from high school in 1943.

Upon graduating from high school, Maxine enjoyed a unique opportunity that was available to women for the first time in our nation's history. Feeling patriotic tugs at her heartstrings, Maxine took a factory job in Meadville, Pennsylvania where she tirelessly sewed parachutes for the war effort. While working, Maxine would often pass the long hours by thinking about a young man named Charles Schall that she met while in high school. Both of them were at a dance with different dates, but that did not stop them from noticing each other. When Charles saw Maxine across the room, he came and spoke to her. The couple quickly agreed to meet another time. Keeping their promise to each other, Charles called Maxine and they took a drive in the country to Dayton with three other couples in one car! Their first date was to an ice cream shop where Maxine and Charles split a carton of ice cream. After their first date, the couple continued to see each other for two years. Maxine dearly wished to marry Charles, but like many other young men at the time, he joined the Air Force during the war and since he knew he was leaving soon, he did not think getting married was a good idea.

During the four years that Charles was in the Air Force, Maxine would faithfully send him care packages stuffed with candy, gum, and comic books. When Charles finally returned home, the couple decided to marry and were united on June 5, 1945 in a quiet ceremony by the Justice of the Peace, with his wife serving as a witness. The newlyweds made a temporary home with Charles' parents for thirty days. Charles returned to the Air Force for three months. When Charles returned from the service, the couple settled in Rural Valley and Johnstown where Charles took a job driving an oil tanker. It was here that the family grew to include Cathy, born August 10, 1946. A son Dennis followed on April 1, 1950 and a daughter Shelley on March 2, 1956. Finally Thomas completed the family with his birth on December 13, 1961. The family then moved to Altoona, Pennsylvania. While growing up, all the children attended the local elementary and high school. Maxine took a job at Boyer Candy Company where she worked as a packer for 10 years.

After the kids were grown and had graduated, a flood in the nearby city of Johnstown in July of '77 devastated the steel industry and many mills were closed leaving area residents with no work. Like many other families in the area, the Schall children eventually migrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan. First Cathy and her husband Mel headed north and Dennis and Deb were not far behind. Later in 1980, Maxine and Charles, and their son Tom followed their family and quickly decided to invite Shelley to come along. While in Grand Rapids, Maxine and Charles became faithful members of the First United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids. Meanwhile, in order to help support the family, Charles worked at Pinkerton Security.

Although work kept Maxine busy, she still had time to pursue her many hobbies including sewing. Maxine was a fantastic seamstress, sewing many of her own clothing as well as gifts for other friends and relatives; she also knitted many afgans. A wonderfully talented lady, she also made many dolls, potholders and other items that she sold at local craft shows. However, what Maxine enjoyed most of all was giving her crafts as gifts to her beloved grandchildren. Tragedy would soon strike the Schall family. In 1981 at the tender age of 19, her son Thomas had a severe brain aneurysm that resulted in his death. Because of her strong, close family and dear friends, Maxine was able to recover from this extremely difficult period. Then, Maxine's health began to fail and on Father's Day 1992, she suffered a severe stroke. Following a two week hospitalization and extensive therapy she eventually recovered with the help of Charles, her family and friends.

Despite these incredibly challenging struggles, Maxine was able to retain her strong spirit. A wonderful homemaker, she loved to cook and was very good at it. Maxine's delicious roast beef, potatoes, and gravy with vegetables were always family favorites, but her most famous dish was her noodles! Of course, dinner at the Schall home was never complete without dessert, and Maxine's pies and cakes were great, but her cream puffs were what always hit the spot! She was a long time lover of chocolate and she always knew how to carefully include the ingredient into her recipes. Maxine always looked forward to holidays because it gave her the opportunity to create delicious spreads. Everyone in the family knew that whether it was Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter, the family would be eating well! When Maxine wasn't busy cooking or crafting, she did know how to relax, and mostly that meant reading Reader's Digest, or enjoying her favorite television shows: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, and Doctor Phil. When she was young, she played the piano, organ, and the guitar.

Of course, to Maxine, nothing compared to spending time with her grandkids. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and had a wonderful relationship with them. She spoiled the kids with her loving attention, and of course, many wonderful gifts. Both Sadly and coincidentally, on June 19, 2005 Maxine suffered another stroke which again put her in the hospital; again, it was Father's Day. After being admitted to Butterworth Hospital , she was transferred to Kent Community Hospital , where things seemed to be progressing well. But, on Saturday morning, Charles received a much unexpected call saying that Maxine had passed away.

After 82 years of a very full life, Maxine died on Saturday morning July 9, 2005. She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Schall, her sister and two brothers. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Charles Schall; her children, Cathy and Mel Beam, Dennis and Deborah Schall, Shelley and Jim Gruich; her four grandchildren, Rebecca Kleinbrink, Joel (Shelby) Beam, Emily (Troy) DeVlieger, Hayley Hansen; three great grandchildren, Alyssa and John Kleinbrink and Caleb Beam; her sisters-in-law, Cora Kinter and Marilyn Kinter; several nieces nephews and many friends. The service to celebrate the life of Maxine will be held on Tuesday July 12, 2005 at 1:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW . Relatives and friends may meet the family at the funeral home on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Please visit Maxine's web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read her life story, leave your memory of her and sign her guest book.