Maxine (Maggie, or Max) Margaret Seidl age 95, from the town of Richfield, died peacefully on Thursday, June 17, 2021, on the farm she shared with her husband and family since 1962. Maxine was born in Rozellville, Jan. 14, 1926 to Alois & Loretta (Brost) Griesbach. She attended grade school at St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Rozellville. As a young adult, she worked as a shoe cutter, at Weinbrenner Shoe Factory in Marshfield.
On May 23, 1949, Maxine married the love of her life, Michael Seidl at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, in Rozellville. Last May they celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary and were looking forward to their 72nd. That was not meant to be, for Mike passed away on Oct. 25, 2020. They are now together again for eternity. Maxine’s mission on earth is completed. God is ready for her, and it is time for her homegoing.
Maxine grew up on a farm, started by her grandfather, Fred Griesbach. That farm is now a 5th generation farm, on Griesbach Road in Rozellville, run by Danny Griesbach, Maxine’s great-nephew. It had a special place in her heart throughout her life and she always spoke of it as “out home.” As a little girl, Maxine was allowed to start 1st grade a year early at 5, so that her brother, Silvan, who was 6, did not have to walk to school through the fields by himself.
Maxine had a great sense of humor. She could always make people laugh when you were not expecting it with her jokes. She inherited that from the Griesbach side of her family as her dad, sister and brother could also “crack you up.” Maxine also had a brief side gig playing Santa Claus to friend’s children. She would go to their houses and get the kids to kneel on the floor, remorseful for their behavior, so that they would do better before Christmas arrived, in hopes of finding gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. She dressed up as George Washington once too, with a girlfriend, for a costume party.
Maxine loved to be outdoors, so being a farmer’s wife gave her lots of opportunity for that. She often milked the cows, with the help of her three daughters, while Mike was doing fieldwork. He told many farmers that “Max is the best hired hand I could ever have.” That was quite a compliment coming from him. Maxine was also a big “cat lover.” She always made sure they had a special blend of cat food and oatmeal for breakfast and supper. There was usually a parade of cats following her from the house to the barn at mealtime as she was tapping the kettle and calling “here kitty, kitty, kitty,” like she was the Pied Piper. She also loved her gardens and flowers. Flowers were all around the yard and often in 2 different gardens. She especially enjoyed mowing the lawn once they got a riding mower.
Maxine was a very generous person. She often had extra “guests” at her table. If someone popped in at mealtime, there was an extra plate set. When a new silo was being built, the three men on the job ate with the family at mealtime. When neighbor kids came to help pick stones (an annual summer job on a farm), they were treated like one of the family. After retirement Maxine made ice cream pails full of cookies for friends, often requested. Maxine taught her daughters well. She used to tell them that mops were no good for scrubbing a floor. They only “pushed the dirt around” and “you can’t get in the corners with a mop.” They all three scrub floors on their hands and knees to this day, like Mom made them do. Maxine was also a greeting card giver. Have an occasion, and she would send you a card. This past year and a half Nancy had the pleasure of taking over that task for her but would always get Mom’s input on what she wanted to say.
Maxine & Mike loved polka music. Her favorite song was Spanish Eyes. Many bands who knew her would play that song for her if they spotted her and Mike in the audience. Mike and Maxine went to many wedding showers and dances at Fahey’s Ballroom in Rozellville in their younger days and in later years enjoyed many Sundays dancing & listening to “old time music” in Sherry. She is probably listening with Mike right now to Brian & the Ridgeland Dutchmen, one of their favorite bands.
Maxine is survived by her three daughters, Susan (Tom) Hefner, Oconomowoc, Nancy Seidl, Milwaukee, and Carol (John) LaPorte, Marshfield. She is “Farm Grandma” to Stephanie (Lee) Faucher, Middleton, and great-grandchildren Caleb, Suzette, Connor, and Garrett Faucher, Middleton, Jacob Flaig, NC. and Jonah Michael Flaig, Waukesha, who arrived earlier than we expected in April. Her sister-in-law, Dora Griesbach, Rozellville, also survives, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Mike, her parents Al & Loretta Griesbach, her brother Silvan, sister & brother-in-law, Eunice (Ambrose) Sterzinger, her grandson Scott Flaig, who passed away unexpectedly this past May, her father and mother-in-law, Bill & Rosa (Krall) Seidl, step-mother-in-law, Mary (Eckes) Seidl, and in-laws Karl (Annabell) Seidl, Rose (Norman) Merkel and Betty Barnes. We cannot forget Maxine’s “favorite” farm animals, her two pugs who joined the family in later years. Phyllis and Maggie were the “top dogs” in her life. They not only had the privilege of being in the kitchen at mealtime, but they also got to relax with “Grandpa & Grandma” in the recliners to watch TV, and then lick the sticks from their ice cream bars before bedtime. They truly were “lucky dogs.”
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St Michael’s Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 23,2021 at 11:00. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 until the time of service. Rev. Murali Anand Rayappan and Maxine’s great nephew, Rev, Jeffrey Hennes will officiate. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes.com . Burial will be in St. Michael’s parish cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Dale Brueggen, Caleb Faucher, Suzette Faucher, Connor Faucher, Garrett Faucher and Bill Griesbach. Masks are optional. Lunch will be provided following the service in the church hall. We would like to say a huge thank you to Dale Brueggen, a dear friend and the best neighbor you could ask for. He was always available at the drop of a hat if anything was needed. He thought so much of Mom, he called her “ma.” To Dale’s dad, Kenny, who took over lawn mowing duties to make the farmyard look top notch when Mom and Dad could no longer do it. To Mom’s devoted caregivers, who have been with her for the past year and a half, Angela, Bethanie, Diane, Jenna, Melisande, Penny & recently Kara, Melodie, Michaela and Nicole. They do not think of Mom as a client, but as a grandmother and treat her as if she were theirs. We would not have gotten through this time without your loving care and concern. To St. Croix Hospice, thank you for being with Mom in her final days. Thank you to all the “old friends and neighbors,” whom we have known for 60 or more years, and who have supported not only Mom, but all of us ever since our dad died last fall. It meant a lot to have you all at the service during our saddest time. Last, but not least, thank you to all our relatives and friends for your constant concern, cards, calls and visits to Mom when she needed it the most.
Condolences can be sent online to www.rembsfh.com. You can also watch the livestream video from this site. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the “Working Cats Program” at the Marshfield Humane Society, or the Marshfield FFA Alumni Association at 8670 County Road. A, Marshfield, WI 54449.
Rest in peace, Mom. We will miss you dearly.
Author: News Desk
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