Nixon, Maxine L.

Maxine L. Nixon, 87, a resident of Linn Manor Care Center, Marion, died there Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, after a long illness with Alzheimer's disease. Services: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, at United Methodist Church of West Union, by the Rev. Scott Kober. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, and one hour before the service Wednesday at the church. Burial: West Union Cemetery, West Union.

Survivors include her children, Craig (Pamela) Nixon of Cedar Rapids, Carol Wishnowski of Hiawatha, Terry (Brenda) Nixon of Fremont, Calif., and Mary (Timmy) Crain of Cedar Rapids; a brother, Duane Grafenberg of Marion; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ted; and a grandson, Todd.

Maxine was born Dec. 3, 1923, the daughter of Elmer and Margaret (Roland) Grafenberg, in West Union, Iowa. She married Francis “Ted” Nixon on Feb. 15, 1947, in West Union. He died Oct. 14, 2003. Maxine was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church of West Union and was active with the UMW. She graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and then taught in Greene, Iowa, until her marriage. Maxine and Ted then farmed for many years in Fayette County. She was very active in many church and community organizations.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Linn Manor Care Center, 1140 Elim Dr., Marion, IA 52302 or the Alzheimers Association of East Central Iowa, 1570 42nd St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, in Maxine's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Maxine at  under obituaries.