Maxine Sander

Maxine Lenone (Smoak) Sander, 87, of Traverse City, Michigan, formerly of Waukon, IA, died peacefully with her children, and their spouses, by her side Monday, January 20, 2014, at The Grand Traverse Pavilions of Traverse City, Michigan, where she had been lovingly cared for the last six months of her life. Memorial services will be held Saturday, May 10th at 11:00 AM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser officiating. A private family burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon at a later date. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is assisting with arrangements.

Maxine is the daughter of Colonel Luther Glenn Smoak, and Gladys A. (Hussong) Smoak, and was born July 9, 1926 in Evanston, Illinois. Maxine married two times: her first husband and father of her children was Dr. Robert Sander of Waukon, Iowa, and her second husband was Mr. Robert Reisdorf of Detroit, Michigan. Maxine and Bob Sander were married on May 23, 1948, and Maxine and Bob Reisdorf were married in 1972.

Coming to Michigan, Maxine with her education in home economics, art, and music, loved the Traverse City, Michigan area, and made it her home. Maxine has a Masters in Art Education from Michigan State University, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Home Economics, and Applied Art from Iowa State University, 1947. At college, she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority.

Throughout her lifetime, Maxine has lived in the states of Illinois, Iowa, California, Oregon, Hawaii, and Michigan. Her organizations and special interests have been in the fields of art, music, and reading education, the Christian Science Church where she has served as First Reader, Church soloist, Christian Science practitioner, and served on many church committees throughout her lifetime. She loved to paint, sing, play piano, dance and play bridge.

Her survivors are her four children and their spouses: Gloria (Jon) Payne, Christine (Bruce) Dunbar, Carole (Steve) Goodale, and Glenn (Karen) Sander. Maxine is also survived by her sister, Dona Smoak, and sister-in-law, Celia (Sander) Garrett, and her husband, Francis Garrett. Maxine is survived by two half brothers, William and Glenn Smoak, and numerous nieces and nephews. Maxine has four grandchildren, Heather Kirkpatrick, Andy Kirkpatrick, Sophia Sander, and Joey Sander, and two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Paglia-Kirkpatrick, and Colin Robert Kirkpatrick.

Preceding her in death were her two husbands, Dr. Robert Sander, and Mr. Robert "Bob" Reisdorf; her parents Colonel Luther Glenn Smoak and Gladys Smoak; sisters-in-laws, Verona Liefer Sander, Adeline Depping Sander; and two brother-in-laws, Mr. Harry Sander and Dr. Curtis Sander.

Maxine was a loving, compassionate, and very competent mother to all her children and she will be sorely missed by family and friends.