Obituary of Maxine Cecil

Funeral services for Maxine Cecil, 97, of Spirit Lake, will be 2 pm, Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Mrs. Cecil passed away Sunday, June 6, 2017, at Hawkeye Care Center in Spirit Lake. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choosing in her memory. Maxine Leila Cecil, daughter of Robert and Waive Meckes, was born on January 25, 1920, in Hinton, Iowa. She passed away Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Spirit Lake, Iowa at the age of 97. She received her education in the Ocheyedan and Logan schools. She attended secretarial school in Omaha, NE, and worked for her father in his insurance office. On May 2, 1942, Maxine was united in marriage to Jim (Doc) Cecil in Las Vegas. Maxine moved back to Logan to stay with her parents while her husband joined the Air Force and was a B-24 pilot during WWII. Following Jim's military discharge, they lived at Pammel Court in Ames, Iowa, while Jim completed a Veterinarian Degree at Iowa State University. Maxine and Jim moved to Armstrong, Iowa, in 1950, where they lived for 25 years. During this time, she was very involved in her church, community and school activities. She also worked in Dr. Turner's medical office. Maxine and Jim moved to Charles City in 1975 and enjoyed many trips abroad including Ireland, England and China. In 1985, they retired in Spirit Lake. Maxine was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. She enjoyed embroidering, spending time with family and friends, and was an avid bridge player. Left to cherish Maxine's memories are her two daughters: Claudia Doty and husband Steve of West Des Moines, IA; Debra Michels of Mankato, MN, daughter-in-law: Ginny Cecil of Irvine, CA; grandchildren: Peter (Amy) Cecil of West Linn, OR; Jared (Erica) Cecil of Algona, IA; Ryan Cecil, Irvine, CA; Heather (Scott) Praska of Urbandale, IA; Mike (Gwen) Doty, Albuquerque, NM; Codie (Caleb) Kostechka of Eugene, OR; Tyler Michels of Spokane, WA; Will Michels of Minneapolis, MN; and 13 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Preceding Maxine in death were her parents, her husband, Jim (Doc) Cecil, two sons, Jim and Mike Cecil, two sisters, one brother, a special sister and brother-in-law, Claudia and Bill Boies.