Maxine Pithan

Maxine Helen Edith Pithan was born on August 27, 1931, in Aurelia, Iowa, to Henry and Anna (Pingel) Roggow. She attended school in Cherokee, Iowa, and graduated with the class of 1949. Following high school, Maxine pursued her passion for education, earning a four-year degree in Physical Education from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa and later a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota.

Teaching was more than a career for Maxine; it was a lifelong passion. She spent the majority of her teaching career in Manilla, Iowa, and also taught in Anthon-Oto and Schleswig before her retirement. However, Maxine's love of teaching never truly allowed her to retire, as she continued to substitute teach for many years. She cherished the opportunity to share her knowledge, encourage her students, and build lasting relationships with the many generations of students whose lives she touched. Teaching brought her tremendous joy, and the connections she made throughout her years in the classroom remained an important part of her life.

Outside of teaching, Maxine enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers. She especially loved checking her birdhouses each year to see if the wrens had returned. A devoted sports fan, she also enjoyed watching sports on television, particularly cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Maxine was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison, where she was active in LWML, Ladies Guild and Bible studies. In July of 2023, Maxine moved to Homestead in Denison, where she passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2026, having attained the age of 95 years, one month and seven days.

In addition to her parents, Maxine was preceded in death by her son; Bernie Pithan; sister, Viola Drevs; and her brothers, Melvin and Orville Roggow. Maxine is survived by her son, Gregory Pithan of Davenport, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives; and friends.

Visitation with family greeting friends will be held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m., all at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Burial will be held in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery near Kiron.