Maxine Brandes, the daughter of Ben and Leona (Meyer) Rank, was born in Harlan, Iowa, on May 30, 1929, and died at Northcrest Living Center in Council Bluffs, on July 15, 2019, at the age of 90 years, 1 month, and 15 days.

Maxine attended Defiance, Iowa, public schools through early high school. Her family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, when she was 14 years old. She worked several jobs in downtown Omaha while attending Central High School. Maxine was respected and well-liked by her employers. Maintaining respect and being well-liked were traits that Maxine carried with her throughout her lifetime.

Maxine met her future husband, Wayne Brandes, at a church sponsored roller skating party. On December 12, 1948, she was united in marriage to Wayne in Council Bluffs, Iowa. For 58 years she lived on the farm and raised their three children: Judy, Russell, and Joyce. A neighbor helped to mentor her in the joys (and frustrations) of gardening, canning, freezing food, sewing clothes, and raising a family.

Maxine rose early in the day to take her daughters to seasonal jobs such as bean walking and detasseling corn (and worked alongside them). She and neighbors met at night in barn lofts to catch pigeons to sell. Neighbors gathered yearly for the annual butchering in her garage. Friends and neighbors also gathered together for card parties. Maxine and Wayne created many memories with their Silver Creek friends and family and the church was a large part of their lives.

Later years found her baking chocolate chip cookies with grandsons and taking the boys on vacations with Wayne. A major milestone was traveling to Alaska with Joyce, Dennis, and Cade and checking off the 50 ^th state to visit.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, in 2005, her parents, her daughter, Judy, in 2017, her great granddaughter, Faith Ann Scheffler and her sister Wilma Mitchell.

She is survived by her son, Russell Brandes, and his wife Phyllis of Hancock, Iowa, her daughter Joyce Hickerson and husband Dennis of Boise, Idaho, and son-in-law Jim Scheffler of Hancock Iowa.

Survivors are also her grandchildren: Tom and Hilary Scheffler of Hancock, Iowa; Doug and Kayce Scheffler of McKinney, Texas; Mike and Samantha Scheffler of Hancock, Iowa; and Cade Brandes Hickerson of Boise, Idaho.

Her great grandchildren are: Roman, Katie, Guy, and Max Scheffler of Hancock; Callie, Duke, Jack, and Dixie Scheffler of McKinney, Texas; and Stella and Lily Scheffler of Hancock, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at 10:30 AM at the Silver Creek United Methodist Church west of Hancock.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 5:30 until 7:30 PM, at the Silver Creek United Methodist Church.  Interment will be in the Silver Valley Cemetery.  Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.