Hess, Maxine H.

OLIN - Maxine H. Hess, 72, of Olin, died Friday morning, Oct. 15, 2010, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. A celebration of her life will be held Monday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. at the Olin Consolidated High School gymnasium. Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. today at Lahey Funeral Home in Olin. Burial will be held at a later date at Maxine's request at the Olin Cemetery.

Maxine Helen Ryan was born May 28, 1938, in Shullsburg, Wis., daughter of Herbert R. and Edna (Vick) Ryan. She was the youngest of eight children. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church, St. Matthew's in Shullsburg. She attended elementary school and graduated from Shullsburg High School in 1956. After graduating she attended Milwaukee Accredited School of Beauty Culture at Madison, Wis. On March 4, 1957, she married James Townsend at St. Matthew's Church in Shullsburg, Wis. They had two daughters, Joni and Judy, and one son, John, who died in infancy. She later married Jim Hess on Nov. 26, 1977, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Maquoketa. She had three stepchildren, Jan, Becky and Amy. Maxine and Jim lived in Olin for 32 years.

She worked as a certified nursing assistant at the Senior Home in Monticello for 10 years. In Olin, she worked for Olin Consolidated Schools for 20 years as a special education associate and later she drove students to surrounding community schools.

Maxine and Jim were active members of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Maquoketa, serving on the vestry and teaching Sunday school. She loved life and people and was devoted to her family and friends.

She was very proud of all her children and grandchildren and loved spending time with them. Maxine always had a smile and was ready to help people. Her last gift was being an organ donor.

Maxine is survived by her husband, Jim Hess of Olin; her children, Jan Hess of Truckee, Calif., Joni (Randy) Schmith of Lincoln, Neb., Becky (Keith) Brecht of Olin, Amy (Johnny) Rammelsberg of Norfolk, Va., and Judy (Jim) Hopkins of Cedar Rapids; 10 grandchildren, Shauna (Nick) Barton, Staci Steiner, Nick (Anne) Schmith, Jesse Brecht, Stephanie (Gary) Goodman, Natalie Schmith, McKenzie Brecht, Katlyn Steiner, Abby Schmith and Grace Rammelsberg; and three great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and seven brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be given to Advancement Services of Jones County or St. Luke's Hospice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at