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Maxine Wicks, 94

Maxine Therese Carrico Wicks, the sixth of eight children of Melvin and Cecilia (Knaup) Carrico, was born July 27, 1929, in Beloit, Kansas, and died Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Nebraska P.E.O. Home in Beatrice, Nebraska, at the age of 94 years.
Maxine met Delmar Laverne Wicks at The Beloit Daily Call newspaper office where she worked part-time during her senior year of high school, and he was a writer and advertising salesman. After graduating from St. John's High School in 1947 and attending Marymount College in Salina for one year, the couple married in St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit on Monday, November 8, 1948, and to this union eight children were born: James Lee, Stephen Lynn, Robert Joseph, Michael Alan, John Patrick, Mary Elizabeth, Judith Ann and Thomas Dean.
Del later was offered a position at the Sutton, Nebraska, newspaper, and the Wicks family journeyed to Sutton with their two oldest children, and Bob arrived while they resided there. They remained in Sutton until Del was offered part ownership in The Daily Call along with Alan Houghton, and the Wickses relocated back "home" to Beloit where their five youngest children were born. The couple sold their share of the business to Alan and moved to Deshler, Nebraska, in 1969, where Maxine joined Del in the printing and newspaper business, The Deshler Rustler. Maxine's column, "Maxine's Minis" reported weekly on the exploits of the family's children, much to their chagrin, but was universally lauded by the community for its relatable humor.
While Maxine worked full time, she also served her community as a member of the Deshler school board, Thayer County Quarter Horse Racing Association board, and American Legion Auxiliary. She was also an avid bridge player and attended all of the children's school activities. A thoughtful listener and communicator, she never failed to have a 30-cup coffee pot ready for company, whether it was an 80-year-old neighbor lady or a 30-year-old coach knocking at the door. She taught her family that age is never a barrier to friendship.
In the face of Del's declining health, sons Steve and Bob joined their parents in The Rustler's news and job printing businesses. After Del's death in 1982, Maxine and her sons continued to operate The Rustler for several years, later selling the business and Maxine moving to Bennet, Nebraska, in 1986. She worked for a phone directory company and later for Midwest Web Printing and Direct Mail in Lincoln, Nebraska, from which she retired in 2006. Maxine continued community involvement in Bennet, serving several years as president of the local American Legion Auxiliary as well as holding active memberships with the Bennet Builders and Bennet Foundation organizations. She continued to enjoy card clubs and Senior Diners activities. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hebron, Nebraska, and later St. Michael Catholic Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Maxine became a resident of the Nebraska P.E.O. Home in Beatrice, Nebraska, in October 2023.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Delmar; two sons, Jim in 2005 and Bob in 2023; infant brother, James; siblings and their spouses, Albertine (Felix) Konzem, Cecilia (Joe) Ludwig, Virginia (Bill) Lichtenberger, Joseph (Vivian) Carrico, and Carol (Louis) Moritz; brother-in-law and spouse, Lynn (Dorothy) Wicks.
Survivors include four sons, Steve, Mike, and Tom Wicks, all of Bennet, Nebraska; Pat (Jeanne) Wicks of Lincoln, Nebraska; two daughters, Mary Strnad of Hanover, Kansas, and Judy (Mike) Steckelberg of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; daughter-in-law, Dee Wicks of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 14 grandchildren, Jamie Fritz, Tyson and Kale Wicks, Mindy Sandvick, Nate Wicks, Jenny Dorland, Gabriel Strnad, Shane, Shannon, Matthew, Alayna, Jacob, Katelyn and Andrew Steckelberg; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, Janet (Dan) Sparks of Salina, Kansas; numerous nieces and nephews.
A rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Roberts Funeral Home, with visitation with the family beginning at 6:00 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2024, at St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit, with Fr. Andrew Rockers officiating. Interment will follow the Mass in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Beloit.
Memorials will be designated to the Nebraska P.E.O. Home, 413 N. 5th St., Beatrice, Nebraska 68310.
Roberts Family Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at www.robertsfamilyfs.com

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA