Arthur Art L. Maxwell
November 2, 1919 — November 20, 2009
Arthur Logan Maxwell, son of John D. and Anna C. (Larsen) Maxwell, was born on November 2, 1919, in Center Township, in rural Harlan, Iowa. He was Baptized at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, where he remained a lifelong member. Art attended Center #3 Country School and graduated from Harlan High School with the class of 1937. In 1937, Art purchased the first Allis-Chalmers combine in Shelby County.
On January 4,1942, Art was drafted into the United States Army. While in the Army, Art worked as a switchboard operator. On November 19, 1943, Art was united in marriage to Adeline Marie Knudsen. Six children were born to this union: Cathy, Pamela, Jon, JoAnn, Julie, and Mark. After their wedding, they made their home in San Francisco, California, where Art was stationed before being deployed overseas to New Caldeonia, in the South Pacific. On January 7, 1946, Art was honorably discharged, having earned the Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious United Award.
After being discharged, Art and Adeline moved back to Iowa where Art began farming on the family farm. In the early 1970's, Art went to work at Squealer Research Farm. He also worked for the ASCS measuring land. Art and Adeline retired in 1984 and moved into Harlan. At that point, they played a lot of golf and camped at Prairie Rose Lake. Much of the rest of Art�s time was spent in his workshop woodworking, whittling and restoring furniture.
Art was a member of the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941, where he held many offices including that of Quartermaster where his job was overseeing the day to day operation of the Post home and records. He was also a past 4-H club leader for the Center Comers and a member of the Angus Association.
Art earned a trip to Washington, D.C., through the VFW which he referred to often after their return. He instilled patriotism in his kids and admonished them all to "take time to bury the dead."
Art died on Friday, November 20, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety years and eighteen days. He is preceded in death by his parents; his siblings: Don Maxwell, Daisy Stepp, and Anabelle Petersen; and his son-in-law Darryl Johannsen.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Adeline Maxwell, of Harlan, Iowa; their children: Cathy Johannsen of Harlan; Pamela and her husband Larry Scott of Kila, Montana; Jon Maxwell and his friend Debbie Arnold of Kalispell, Montanna; JoAnn and her husband Merlin Bargenquast of Shelby, Iowa; Julie and her husband Tim Hodapp of Spirit Lake, Iowa; and Mark Maxwell and his wife Kris of Harlan; eleven grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Raymond Petersen and sister-in-law Arlene Christensen both of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
Funeral Services were held on Monday, November 23, 2009, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Dr. David G. Swinton officiating the 1:30 PM service. Military Rites were held at the Harlan Cemetery by the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 of Harlan, Iowa. Acting as honorary casket bearers were: Denny Greer, Stan Johannsen, Roger Schwieso, Lynn Christensen, Dwight Zimmerman, Verle Doonan, and Gus Eckerman. Serving as casket bearers were: John Scott, Jason Bargenquast, Troy Hodapp, David Maxwell, Chris Johannsen, Logan Maxwell, and Bill Schwery.
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On January 4,1942, Art was drafted into the United States Army. While in the Army, Art worked as a switchboard operator. On November 19, 1943, Art was united in marriage to Adeline Marie Knudsen. Six children were born to this union: Cathy, Pamela, Jon, JoAnn, Julie, and Mark. After their wedding, they made their home in San Francisco, California, where Art was stationed before being deployed overseas to New Caldeonia, in the South Pacific. On January 7, 1946, Art was honorably discharged, having earned the Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious United Award.
After being discharged, Art and Adeline moved back to Iowa where Art began farming on the family farm. In the early 1970's, Art went to work at Squealer Research Farm. He also worked for the ASCS measuring land. Art and Adeline retired in 1984 and moved into Harlan. At that point, they played a lot of golf and camped at Prairie Rose Lake. Much of the rest of Art�s time was spent in his workshop woodworking, whittling and restoring furniture.
Art was a member of the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941, where he held many offices including that of Quartermaster where his job was overseeing the day to day operation of the Post home and records. He was also a past 4-H club leader for the Center Comers and a member of the Angus Association.
Art earned a trip to Washington, D.C., through the VFW which he referred to often after their return. He instilled patriotism in his kids and admonished them all to "take time to bury the dead."
Art died on Friday, November 20, 2009, at Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety years and eighteen days. He is preceded in death by his parents; his siblings: Don Maxwell, Daisy Stepp, and Anabelle Petersen; and his son-in-law Darryl Johannsen.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Adeline Maxwell, of Harlan, Iowa; their children: Cathy Johannsen of Harlan; Pamela and her husband Larry Scott of Kila, Montana; Jon Maxwell and his friend Debbie Arnold of Kalispell, Montanna; JoAnn and her husband Merlin Bargenquast of Shelby, Iowa; Julie and her husband Tim Hodapp of Spirit Lake, Iowa; and Mark Maxwell and his wife Kris of Harlan; eleven grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Raymond Petersen and sister-in-law Arlene Christensen both of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
Funeral Services were held on Monday, November 23, 2009, at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Dr. David G. Swinton officiating the 1:30 PM service. Military Rites were held at the Harlan Cemetery by the Shelby County VFW Post No. 941 and the Harlan American Legion Helmer Reyelt Post No. 150 of Harlan, Iowa. Acting as honorary casket bearers were: Denny Greer, Stan Johannsen, Roger Schwieso, Lynn Christensen, Dwight Zimmerman, Verle Doonan, and Gus Eckerman. Serving as casket bearers were: John Scott, Jason Bargenquast, Troy Hodapp, David Maxwell, Chris Johannsen, Logan Maxwell, and Bill Schwery.
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