Maxine E. Knipstein

Maxine Esther (Heine) Knipstein was called to her heavenly home on January 27, 2025.

 Maxine was born on June 8, 1931, the middle daughter of Theodore and Esther (Hockemeyer) Heine. She was baptized June 21, 1931, and confirmed on May 20, 1945, at Emanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, the same church where she married Wilbur Martin Knipstein on June 2, 1956. 

 She is survived by their four daughters: Karen (Timothy) Krupski of Noblesville, Luann (Dan) Vachon of Fort Wayne, Janell (Bill) Vaughan of Rutherford, NJ and Susan (Tim) Imler of Fort Wayne.

 Twelve grandchildren: John (Stephanie) Krupski, Peter (Alison) Krupski, Thomas (Sydney) Krupski, Noelle (Chris) Webb, Rachel (Cody) Slaven, Daniel (Sara) Krupski, Andrew (Gillian) Vachon, Christopher (Brittany) Vachon, Madeline (Colin) King, Mitchell (Sarah) Imler, Maxwell Imler and Ike Imler. Nine great grandchildren: Henry Wilbur, Vivian and Vincent Vachon, Emmalyn, Parker and Benjamin Vachon, Noah Krupski, Hailey Slaven and Oskar Krupski.

 Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur, on December 10, 2020, her granddaughter Amy Lynne Vachon, her parents and her two sisters, Jane (Heine) Brown and Joan (Heine) Reichhart. 

 Maxine was known for many things but chief among them were her ability to share love and care for people through the gift of food and gracious hospitality and for her indomitable strength and endurance. She was a homemaker, gardener, tractor driver, church volunteer, hospital employee, and baker of many wonderful things, but especially pies, cookies and impossibly high angel food cakes. If you dropped by the farmhouse, chances are you’d be invited to stay for dinner. 

 Friends came to help bale hay for the promise of her home cooking, and those attending a church fish fry or chicken dinner were known to hold out until her pies were cut and served. Maxine’s extended and close knit family have all drawn inspiration from her strong work ethic, her devotion to serving others and most important, her unwavering faith in God’s promise in Jeremiah 29, verse 11, which she scribed in at least one grandchild’s Bible: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.” 

 Maxine grew up on a farm in New Haven, Indiana, and her first job was at New Haven Bakery. She worked as a secretary at International Harvester until she left to raise a family, help Wilbur run the farm, and care for her widowed father-in-law for two decades.

 At age 72, Maxine re-entered the workforce when her long-time volunteer role as a Surgical Waiting receptionist at Lutheran Hospital became an employed position until she retired in 2015. To the very end, she was making those around her smile with her spirit and her spunk. Her family would like to extend special thanks to the kind community of caregivers at Lutheran Life Villages Pine Valley who clearly have a passion and a heart for providing dignity and loving, quality care to each of their residents.

 She has known and shared the promise of salvation throughout her life with many including her large close knit family and all those she made feel like family. Her memory and legacy lives on through this shared faith and many wonderful memories.

 A service to celebrate her life will be held at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 917 W. Jefferson on Monday, February 3, at 10:30 am with visitation from 9:30 to 10:15 am preceding the service.

Family and friends will also be received at church on Sunday, February 2, from 4 to 7 pm.

 In lieu of flowers, Maxine’s family request memorials be directed to Emmanuel Lutheran Church. If not attending in person, memorials can be mailed to Zwick and Jahn Funeral Homes, 520 N. Second Street, Decatur, IN 46733. Floral deliveries can be made from 8 am to noon on Sunday at the church.