Maxine Mauser

Maxine A (Kallsen) Mauser was born April 2, 1925, in the family farmhouse north of Big Springs to Walter and Meta (Dehning) Kallsen and died March 26, 2026, seven days before her 101st birthday. She grew up as the oldest of 5 children and attended rural school before graduating from Big Springs Rural High School in 1943. She married her high school sweetheart, Murl Mauser, on September 29, 1946, right after he returned from World War II. During the war effort, Maxine worked at the North Platte Canteen with her mother and earned the Rosie the Riveter Award. They grew up 7 miles apart on the North Table but didn't notice each other until Murl broke his collarbone in football and the coach canceled the rest of the football season. Murl and Maxine never missed an Alumni Banquet as they loved to reconnect with their many high school friends.

After many years of farming and working for the Soil Conservation Service, Murl and Maxine moved to Lincoln for Murl's ASCS job. There, Maxine found her love of quilting when she joined a quilting guild. She made many beautiful quilts for her family. She was also a consummate shopper and loved to shop the Lincoln malls. Maxine enjoyed sewing for her children and her grandchildren, making Christmas dresses (for professional grandchildren Christmas pictures), cheerleader uniforms, prom dresses and colorful costumes. She spend hours crocheting, knitting, and embroidering. But her favorite activity was calling her friends and family to make sure everyone was okay.

Maxine was presently, the longest-sustaining member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Big Springs. She was baptized on May 3, 1925, and confirmed May 5, 1940. She was active in her church as a member of LWML, she taught Sunday School and taught preschool for several years at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in North Platte. She was the last living member of the North Table Neighborettes Club. She baked beautiful meringue pies for the club picnic. Maxine was also a devoted babysitter for many years to the Osmera boys, Dakota, Logan, and Myles.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Murl, her parents, Walter and Meta, her in-laws, Ben and Blanche Mauser, her siblings, Lorna May, Irvin and Vern Kallsen, a grandson, Scott Benjamin, sisters-in-law, Juanita Kallsen Zoucha, Vivan Kallsen, Jerry Mauser and Mildred Bieber, and brothers-in-law Harold Bieber and Jim Boyer.

She is survived by her children, Sherry Polk (Mike), Beth McCroden (Larry) and Kent Mauser (Danielle); her grandchildren; Jason Polk (Larianne), Stacey Headley, Lori Ehmke (Brad), Amy Schmaderer (Jason), Nicole Mauser-Storer (Cory), Jill Newkirk (Bill), Lance Polk (Jamie), Shannon Suing (Mike), Adam Polk and Mira Mauser-Bills.

She enjoyed 22 great-grandchildren: Jordan and Jacob Polk, Brennan, Jared and Jace Ehmke, Brittney Pankowski, Brady Newkirk, Benjamin, Daniel and Charles Schmaderer, McKenna and Mason Headley, Elizabeth Dunbar, Cade, Josie and Elliot Suing, McKenzie, Jackson, and Landon Polk, Gabrielle Polk, and Jenna and Adley Mauser. She also had three great-great-grandsons, Nash, Colter, and Carter. Maxine had one sister, Gladys Yenter, a sister-in-law, Carole Ann Boyer, and two brothers-in-law, John Yenter and Harold Mauser. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Big Springs, with Pastor Kurt Hatteberg officiating. Committal will follow in the Big Springs Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Julesburg on Monday, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Big Springs Fire and Rescue of Big Springs. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsjulesburg.com, where the services will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg is in charge of arrangements.