Obituary of Hazel Caroline Maxwell

Hazel Caroline Maxwell, the daughter of Thomas L. and Hazel M. (Couch) Dawson, was born August 11, 1936, in Colfax, Iowa. On February 5, 1954, Caroline was united in marriage with James Ralph Maxwell.

Caroline dedicated her life to her husband, family and community. She worked as a cook for the Mingo public school system for over twenty-six years.

Caroline was a member of the Ira Christian Church; she had attended Ashton Chapel since she was married. She was also a member of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 303; American Legion Post #534 Mingo, Iowa. Caroline enjoyed cooking, quilting, sewing, gardening, fishing, attending the athletic activities of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, attending Cowboy Church and family vacations to Long Lake, Minnesota.

Caroline died on Friday, April 22, 2022, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. She was 85 years old. Caroline was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Ralph Maxwell; one daughter, Carla in 1982; a son-in-law, Brian Faidley; one granddaughter, Julie Crozier; three brothers, Lee, Frank, Glen; three sisters, Marjory, Opal and Helen.

Those left to honor Caroline's memory include her son, Mike (Sue) Maxwell; her daughters, Valerie (Rick) Crozier, Linda (Brian) Faidley and Diana (Bret) Van Zante; her grandchildren, Angela (Jim) Langenberg, Jennifer (Troy) Koehler, Janelle Crozier (Eric Illingworth), Melanie (Kirk) Pleggenkuhle, Shauna (Josh) Carlson, Nicole Goaley (Michael Lewis), Olivia (Jessica) Johnson, Katie Van Zante (Vince Shen), Caleb Van Zante; her special granddaughter, Jen (Aaron) Wagner; her eleven great grandchildren, who lovingly called her GiGi.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2022, at Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton. A Facebook Live Broadcast will begin at 10:30 am Friday on the Pence Reese Funeral Home and Cremation Services Facebook page. The family will greet friends from 4:00 until 6:00 pm Thursday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be designated to Camp Sunnyside, Ashton Chapel Cemetery or Union Chapel Cemetery and may be left at the funeral home.