W. Maxine VanCloostere
W. Maxine VanCloostere (nee Alstat), 88, of Murphysboro, Illinois, died peacefully Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at Terrace on the Park Nursing Home in Mascoutah, Ill., surrounded by her three daughters.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro and burial at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday until 9:45 a.m. at Pettett Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church or St. Andrew School, Alzheimer's Association or to the charity of the donor's choice. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at http://www.pettettfuneralhome.com.
Maxine was born on Aug. 4, 1924, in Jackson County, Illinois, and was the daughter of farmers, Bill & Verena Alstat. She married the son of farmers, Tony A. and Mary Agnes VanCloostere, Robert E., on Sept. 24, 1946 at St Andrew Catholic Church in Murphysboro.
At the time they wed, Maxine was the teacher of all eight grades in one-room Simpson schoolhouse in Sato Township. Prior to teaching, Maxine worked in St. Louis and Chicago factories to support the war efforts of the U.S. troops in WW II.
Maxine was extremely involved in the family businesses, VanCloostere Farms, R.E.VanCloostere Construction, Inc., VanCloostere Trucking, and Harsy Mine Services, Inc. She served as C.F.O., bookkeeper, General Manager for the 46 years, that they were married.
Maxine served as room mother and scout leader for her daughters at St. Andrew Grade School. She was a member of St. Andrew Altar Society, St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary and Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary in which she volunteered at the KC Hall. Maxine was very civc and community-minded and she was active in the Farm Bureau and Elks Lodge.
Maxine was known for her generosity, caring and grace to all people she interacted with. She excelled as a homemaker and a gardener. Hard work was Maxine's "hobby," her passion.
As a couple, Maxine and Robert liked to travel to sunny locations, particularly with the AGC or in Key Biscayne, Florida, with their family and friends. As a widow, Maxine continued to travel with family and friends. Her most memorable trips were to Alaska with sister-in-law Loretta Schneider, a Russian cruise and numerous trips to Mexico with family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Van Cloostere; her son-in-law, Harold Harsy; her parents, Bill and Verena Alstat; brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Mildred Alstat; brother, Delmar Alstat; brother and sister-in-law, John and Loretta Schneider; brother-in-law, Bill Eisenhauer; brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Mary Endres and nephew, Joey Endres.
Survivors include her three daughters, Lana (Rich) Williams of Millstat, Roberta (John) Systma of Murphysboro, Nancy Harsy (Leonard Pullis) of Murphysboro;
six grandchildren and six great grandchildren, Tonya Williams of Chicago, Gina Williams (Jake Grieff) of Brooklyn, N.Y., Aric (Rhonda) Harsy and children Taryn and Logan of Murphysboro, Aaron Harsy (Tonya Alube) of California and son Chase, Adrienne (Nick) Carter and son RE of Fairfield, Ill. and Darren (Heather) Harsy of Du Quoin, son, Dawson and daughter, Aubree; her brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Barbara Alstat of Vergennes, sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Dr. Ron Liss of Sussex, N.J.; cousins; and many nieces and nephews.
A special thanks to all the loving people at Terrace on the Park Nursing Home and Heartland Hospice for treating Maxine with the same care and respect they would extend to their own family members.