Maxine Marie Zerr, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, entered the gates of heaven on January 29, 2025, at 96 years old. Maxine was born on the family farm on December 25, 1928, in rural Gove County, near Grinnell, Kansas, to Felix and Clarene (Gagnon) Bechard. She attended school in Grainfield, Kansas where she was a member of the high school graduating Class of 1947. Later that year, on October 7th, she married Leonard Zerr at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Grainfield, KS. They soon purchased a farm nestled alongside the Saline River northeast of Park, KS where they worked and raised their family. In the fall of 1983, they retired and moved to Quinter, KS. Their marriage of 77 years was filled with family, love, dancing, and travel—creating a lifetime of cherished memories and more love than one could imagine.
Maxine was a devoted woman of deep Catholic faith. She was a lifetime member of the Sacred Heart Parish Altar Society. She had an abundance of talents, including baking the best cookies, quilting, crocheting, knitting, and sewing. She found great joy in creating beautiful, handmade gifts for her family and friends, from washcloths and scrubbies to blankets, taggies, potholders, and more. A true admirer of sunflowers and the color yellow, Maxine cherished the symbolism of these bright blooms representing longevity, joy, and loyalty—values she embodied wholeheartedly. She also had a fondness for windmills, which now stand as a lasting symbol of her life: one of strength, resilience, and peaceful grace.
In her free time, Maxine enjoyed playing games, especially Rummikub and pitch. She always found joy in visiting the farm, mainly to check on the boys and make sure they were in line. Her family was the heart of her world, and spending time with them was her greatest source of happiness. She and Leonard enjoyed many years traveling in their motor home, visiting places from Arizona to New York. Their favorite pastime was dancing, a love they passed on to their children and grandchildren.
Maxine is survived by her husband, Leonard, of the home, sons Ron (Patty) of Perry, Okla.; Duane (Darlene) of Lincoln, Neb.; Kenny (Amy) of Stillwater, Okla.; Jim (Sheila) of Perry, Okla.; Mick (Dixie) of Park, Kan.; daughter, Kerri Adamson (Taylor) of Rapid City, S.D., 15 grandchildren, 25 great-children (with more on the way), sisters-in-law, Marie Kriley and Irene Bechard, multiple nieces and nephews, and special lifelong friend, Phyllis Zerr.
Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Clarene; daughter, Diane Louise Zerr; siblings, Zella, Marjorie, Denora, Leland, Harold, Leon, and Larry.
While our hearts are broken, we take comfort and peace that Maxine is whole again and reunited with Diane, a reunion she's waited nearly 67 years for.
Services for Maxine will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Park, Kan. 9:30am-Visitation with the family, 10:30am-Rosary, 11:00am-Mass.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church or the Quinter Senior Citizen Center. Donations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
To share memories or leave condolences, please visit www.schmittfuneral.com.