James Maxfield Jr.

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, October 27, 2009

James David Maxfield, Jr., 74, of Austin died Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 at Season’s Hospice in Rochester with his family by his side.

He was born Jan. 25, 1935 in La Crosse, Wis. to James and Freida (Timmerman) Maxfield. Jim attended Austin High School and served in the US Navy from 1952 through 1956. He was married to Joanne Pike on Aug. 24, 1957 at the First United Methodist Church in Austin. He was a lineman and had worked for Austin Utilities and retired from the Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative.

Jim was a member of the Fellowship United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post 91 and a life member of the Blooming Prairie VFW. He was a member of Fidelity Lodge #39 AF & AM, Unity Chapter #29 OES, the Austin Shrine Club, the Oriental Band the Osman Shrine Temple.

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He was a avid outdoorsman and enjoyed camping and fishing. He liked working with stained glass and was a Minnesota Twins fan. In recent years he enjoyed spending winters in Texas.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson Michael Cochlin.

James is survived by his wife Joanne Maxfield, Austin; his children, Jeffrey (Joan) Maxfield, Austin, Jerry (Mary) Maxfield, Austin, Julie (Larry) Cochlin, Northfield, Minn.; grandchildren, Jessica Medgaarden, Jenna, James, Justin, John and Jacob Maxfield, Matthew Cochlin; sisters, Janice Hoy, Austin, Delores (Frank) Waletzki, Austin; mother-in-law, Edith E. Pike, Austin; sisters-in-law, Charleen (Richard) Reed, Austin, Donna (E.A.) Karlsgodt, Alexandria, Minn., Delma (William) Wade, Chattanooga, Ten., Violet (Bion) Henderson, Goleta, Calif., Lois (Harold) Davis, Lemon Grove, Calif., Edith (Don) Zabel, Wells, Minn.; brother-in-laws, Clayton (Carol) Pike, Billings, Mont., Glen (Marlene) Pike, Billings, Mont., Dean (Janice) Pike, Adams, Minn., Donald (Norma) Pike, Austin, Minn., Raymond Pike, Isle, Minn.; and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at Fellowship United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dennis Tamke officiating. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m. conducted by Fidelity Lodge #39 AF&AM; and from 1:30 until the time of the service at the church on Wednesday. Austin Post #91 American Legion and Olaf B. Damm Post #1216 Veterans of Foreign Wars will be in charge of military rites. The Family prefers memorials to the Shriners’ Crippled Children’s Hospital or the Seasons Hospice House in Rochester.

The organist will be Marilyn Sabin; soloist will be Erin Schumacher.

Casket bearers will be Todd Waletzki, Mike Pike, Kevin Hemann, Scott Hemann, Don Schocker, Tom Pike; honorary bearers will be Bob Maxfield, Ken Maxfield, Ed Pike.