Maxine J. Hartrich (94) of Ste. Marie

Maxine Josephine Hartrich, age 94, of Ste. Marie, Illinois, passed away at 11:55 PM – Saturday, September 22, 2018, at Newton Care Center in Newton, Illinois.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM – Wednesday, September 26 at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, Illinois, with Fr. Dean Probst celebrating mass. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ste. Marie, Illinois. Visitation will be held 1 hour before the mass. Arrangements are under the care of the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois. In loving memory of Maxine, memorials may be made to the Ste. Marie American Legion Post #932. The obituary can be viewed and condolences left by clicking here.

Maxine Cunningham was born near Pond Grove, in Jasper County, Illinois, on September 23, 1923, the first child of Ralph & Mary (Zuber) Cunningham. She attended 8 years of school at Pond Grove School and then two years at the Sainte Marie High School. Maxine then went on to Newton to finish high school at Newton Community High School and graduated in 1941. Maxine then attended St Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Terre Haute, Indiana, for 3 years. She graduated in 1944, and was licensed in December of 1944. She and a close friend from nursing school decided that they were going to enlist together and enlisted into the service in January of 1945. Maxine was enlisted in the Army as a Second Lieutenant in Chicago then went to basic training in Wisconsin. When she was discharged in 1947, she was a 1st Lieutenant in the Air Force. Maxine served her country as a nurse in the United States Army during World War II. The former "Pond Grove" girl then came home to the Sainte Marie area to stay and married Eugene “Hop” Hartrich on August 31, 1949, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, Illinois. Maxine and Hop celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this year. Maxine worked as a school nurse for many years for the Jasper County School system. She and Hop enjoyed many years of travel having visited all 50 states. They especially enjoyed their time together fishing in Florida. Maxine was a lifelong member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Ste. Marie, Illinois. She also was a member of the St. Mary’s Altar Society and was a member of the Ste. Marie Post #932 American Legion and a 66 year member of the Ste. Marie American Legion Auxiliary Unit 932, where she had served as past president. Maxine had a passion as an avid quilter. Her quilts will treasured by many. She also enjoyed painting.

Maxine is survived by: Husband- Eugene “Hop” Hartrich of Ste. Marie, Illinois; Sister- Florence Kocher of Ste. Marie, Illinois; Several Nieces & Nephews also survive.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, brother and sister-in-law James (Joan) Cunningham, sister and brother-in-law Alice (Art) Keller and brother-in-law I.D Kocher.