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Maxine Donovan

Published May 19, 2010 at 8:22 AM

Maxine Joan (Hooper) Donovan passed away at the Skyline Retirement Community in Omaha, Neb. April 14, 2010. She was born in Fremont, Neb. July 9, 1913, the second child of Tom and Edythe Hooper. Hooper, Neb. (incorporated in 1876), is rumored to have been named by a distant relative who won a wagon race and named the town.

Maxine moved to Omaha, Neb. and graduated from Benson High in 1930 at the age of 16. She and her sister were mainly supported by their mother, whom had opened a beauty shop in Benson and later another one in Omaha. That spring her mother became ill and soon after died from complications from an operation. She and her sister moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa to live with their uncle Earl Shelledy. She was working at Lagois Candy Kitchen in Spirit Lake and at Arnolds Park, Iowa when she met and married the love of her life Perry M. Donovan Sept. 9, 1936 in Jackson, Minn.

She worked in the Dickenson County Auditors Office as deputy auditor. Perry took over Donovan’s Funeral Home from his father in 1939. During the next 5 years, they were blessed with three children.

In 1952, the Donovans sold the funeral home and bought Weigelwood Resort in Park Rapids. It was here that they raised their children and greatly enjoyed living on Two Inlets Lake. For the next nine years, Maxine also worked as secretary to the superintendent of schools at Park Rapids High School. In 1962, they sold the resort and moved back to Spirit Lake, Iowa and opened up Donovan/Lyson Funeral Home with Perry’s sister Ethel Lyson of Milford, Iowa. At that time Maxine worked at First Federal Savings and Loan in Spirit Lake. They retired in 1977.

Maxine and Perry moved back to Park Rapids to the retirement home they had built on Two Inlets Lake. They were back to the place they both loved. Maxine said the next 10 years were the best of their lives. Perry died in 1987, and Maxine sold her lake home and moved back to Spirit Lake. She later moved into the Skyline Retirement Community in Omaha, Neb. She ended up living next to her sister for the next 12 years.

Maxine is survived by her three children, Jo Ann Crandall of Ruskin, Fla., David P. Donovan of Caldwell, Idaho and Richard “Dick” M. Donovan of Spring Creek, Nev. She is also survived by her sister, Marge Blair, at the Skyline Retirement Community of Omaha; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Maxine ashes were spread in Two Inlets Lake where Perry was waiting. She is finally back with him.