Maxine Ruth Schulze

Maxine Ruth Schulze, age 88, died surrounded by her family and their love on July 16, 2024. Maxine was born on March 8, 1936, to Kenneth and Ruth (Davidson) Elliott in Owen Wisconsin. She grew up in Appleton and spent her youthful summers in Withee with her two siblings. On September 26, 1953, Maxine married her high school sweetheart Carl Schulze and the rest is nearly 71 years of joys, happiness, raising children and adventures.

Maxine and Carl raised their children in their various homes in Kimberly and Combined Locks. A gifted seamstress, Maxine created outfits for her children as they grew. Her children recall the days of coming home when the streetlights came on, but not venturing further than their mom could see. They always knew there was trouble when the middle names came out.

Maxine loved her time at the cabin in Townsend. She loved to listen to the loons as they crossed the lake. She loved spending time touring the lake on the pontoon boat. The best part of her time there was just the quiet of the lake. She had great friends in the area and loved to see them at the resort. She also used her sewing skills to create curtains for the cabin windows.

A wild tumbleweed at heart, Maxine travelled all over the US. She was notorious for her planning skills and put trips together with military precision. As the family and their adventures grew so did the size of the motorhome they travelled in. Never one to be left behind, Maxine was always the first in line, and always ready to be on the move. As a couple Maxine and Carl once took a cruise to Alaska and in retirement, spent winters as snowbirds in Texas.

Maxine will be dearly missed by her husband of nearly 71 years Carl, her children: Wayne (Connie) Schulze, Deborah (Richard) Raymaker and Cynthia (Ed) Wydeven; her grandchildren: William (Karen) Schulze, Nathan Fink, Ryan Fink, Christopher (Jo) Raymaker, Katherine (Kristopher) Floth, Jennifer (David) Vaughn, Lisa Schulze, Carl Schulze and Dusty Hansen; and great grandchildren: Liam, Katerina, Cecilia, Blake, Kayden, Liam, Annabell, Abel, Eddie, Trevor, Mariah, Hailey, Karma, Dawsyn, and Vayda; as well as 3 great great grandchildren. 

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, her infant daughter Ruth; her granddaughter Rebecca Raymaker; her siblings Patricia (Marvin) Hartjes and Joseph (Donna) Elliott and brother-in-law Father Paul Schulze.

A celebration service will take place on Tuesday July 23, 2024, at 11:00am, at Wichmann Funeral Home, 537 N Superior Street, Appleton. Friends and family may gather at the funeral home from 10:00am until the sharing begins. Maxine will be laid to rest at Highland Memorial Park.

Special and heartfelt thanks to Matthew’s (Adave) Senior Care Memory Care Facility with special thanks to Katie, Ashley, and Holly for going above and beyond our expectations.