Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Obituaries
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Duane L. 'Max' Maxwell
Age: 85
City: Mount Pleasant
Funeral Date
11 a.m., Tuesday, 3/15, at First United Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant
Funeral Home
Kimzey Funeral Home
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Duane L. 'Max' Maxwell
DUANE L. "MAX" MAXWELL
Mount Pleasant
Duane L. "Max" Maxwell, 85, of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, March 11, 2022, at
the Klein Center, West Burlington IA.
A memorial funeral
service for Max will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Doug Cue will officiate. A flag folding ceremony will be conducted by the Iowa Military Funeral Honors Detail at the church. Burial will be at a later date in the Forest Home Cemetery. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8 p.m. Monday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 N. Main St., Mt. Pleasant, IA. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
The memorial service will be livestreamed on the First United Methodist Church YouTube Channel. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the First United Methodist Church, the Mt. Pleasant Public Library or S.A.F.E. of Tupelo, MS. Online condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.
Duane Lloyd "Max" Maxwell was born April 12, 1936, at home, rural Salem, IA. He was the son of Glenn W. and Gladys Belle (Doan) Maxwell. He attended Maple Grove Country School and graduated in 1954 from Mt Pleasant High School. He attended (then) Iowa Wesleyan College where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. On July 23, 1960, in Leesville, Louisiana, Max was united in marriage to Joan C. "Joni" Smith.
Duane was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was inducted on March 10, 1959, at Ft. Des Moines, and honorably discharged on February 27, 1961, at Ft. Hood, TX, as a Tech Sergeant.
Max began farming with his brother Ross. Later, he farmed with his son Tony. In 1968, Max and Ross formed Maxwell's Market. Max remained a part of the market for 47 years. Max also farmed and operated Maxwell's Market with his brother-in-law, Richard "Dick" Corell.
Max was a member of First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant. He worked many years in the church's dining room at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, where he loved to converse with the many visitors. Max also served as Head Conductor for the Midwest Central Railroad. He played an integral part when the tracks of the railroad needed to be raised. For many years, Joni and he belonged to a dance group out of Ft. Madison.
Those thankful for sharing in Max's life include his wife of 60 years, Joni of Mt. Pleasant; three children, Debra Wuichet and her husband, Jacques "J.W." of Tupelo, MS, Tony Maxwell and his wife Kristi of Mt. Pleasant and Sean Maxwell of Belton, MO; a sister, JoAnn Corell of Mt. Pleasant; five grandchildren, Adam Woodyard, Ethan Woodyard, Ashley Lohmann, Alissa Alexander and Allison Scarff; and five great-grandchildren – Malia, Alina, Abel, Avalynn and Avery.
His parents; brother, Ross Maxwell; and three sisters, Lorene VanSyoc, Eva Heise and Beatrice Jones, precede Max in death.

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