Maxine Kubesh, age 86, of Olivia died Sunday, February 23, at Olivia Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Olivia. Mass of Christian Burial is Thursday, February 27, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia with Father Joe Steinbeisser as celebrant. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, February 26, from 4-6:30 p.m. at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Olivia. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to Renville County Hospice, Olivia, MN.

Maxine Mary (Kalkbrenner) Kubesh was born on April 6, 1933, on a farm in Bancroft, Iowa, the oldest of four children, born to a second-generation German couple, Alvin and Verena (Neuman) Kalkbrenner. Maxine was baptized and confirmed at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. She attended country school and went on to complete her teaching certificate at St. Cloud State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree at a later time at SCSU. Her first full-time teaching job was at the Olivia Public Elementary School as a third-grade teacher. She met her future husband, Allen Kubesh, in Olivia and they married in 1954, building a home together on the family farm. They farmed in the country until moving to an older, historic home in Olivia, which they lovingly restored and enjoyed for many years through raising four children, thirteen grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. Maxine enjoyed all things family, her many devoted students throughout twenty-five years of teaching and many pets that added great fun to daily life. There was always room for “one-more” at her table and she was gracious in sharing her life with those in need. She delighted in her grandchildren, creating sumptuous meals and beautiful tablescapes for each holiday. True to her innate teaching skills, she would have each grandchild help with the meal, set the table, sing songs at the piano or use the “dress-up” box to put on a holiday play. She was an avid reader and enjoyed the poetry of Shel Silverstein.

Maxine is loved and missed by her children: Pam (and Harlan) Huisman of Sacred Heart; daughter-in-law, Teri Kubesh of Olivia; Tom (and LaVonne) Kubesh of Atwater; Paula (and Tom) Abrahamson of Bismarck, ND; thirteen grandchildren: Chelsey (and Emil) Wendel-Hansen of Uppsala, Sweden; Chloe (and fiancé Wolfgang Cortez II); and Holly (and Brian) Langlee of Duluth; Justin (and Kelsey) Kubesh; Zachary (and Kelly) Kubesh; and Nickolas (and fiancée Shayna Kaddatz) Kubesh of Olivia; Andrea Kubesh of Cosmos; Jackie (and Louis) Riehle of Litchfield; Rochelle (and Nick) Sherman; and Patrick Kubesh of Atwater; Genevieve Kubesh of Colorado; Chad (and Melissa) Abrahamson; and Maggie (and Jacob) Alexander of Bismarck, ND; ten great-grandchildren: Kira and Savannah Kuhnau; Braeden, Morgan, and Callie Riehle; Zoey Lou Sherman; MaKena and Lauren Kubesh; Brielle Maxine Abrahamson; and Cali Jo Alexander; her sister, Delores “Tooty” Johnson; her five sisters-in-law: Doreen Kalkbrenner; Donna Kalkbrenner; Shirely Neuman; Delores (and John) Wannigman; and Joan Kubesh. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Verena; her husband, Allen; her son, Bradley Kubesh; and her three brothers: Robert Neuman, Donald Kalkbrenner, and Edward Kalkbrenner.

Blessed Be Her Memory