Maxine Lucille (Circle) Groner, age 93, was born on November 14, 1930. She peacefully returned home to live with Jesus on December 2, 2023, while her daughter Linda was holding her hand.
She was born to Linnie Hazel and Edward Eugene Circle. Her older brother Dwayne Circle, along with her parents, stepmom Hazel Lavern, stepbrother Frank Judd and grandson Douglas John Perrin, preceded her in death.
Maxine was raised in St. Paul, Kansas, and attended public school most of her youth. When she was in high school, she attended a Catholic school. It was then that she fell in love with the Catholic religion. At age 17, she decided she wanted to become a Nun. She joined a convent, but it was her love of children, and call to motherhood, that caused her to leave. At age 19, she married Charles Warren Groner of St. Paul. Together, they raised six children. She insisted that her children attend a Catholic school. They moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and joined the Lady of Lourdes Catholic church and sent their children to the local parochial school. Maxine then became active in the Altar Society, volunteered at school events, cleaned the church, never missed the stations of the cross during lent, and was an avid pro-life advocate.
She loved journaling, crossword puzzles, sewing, quilting, telling jokes and singing. When she was a young teenager, she used to travel around to local towns and sing in competitions. Maxine won many of those contests and bragged about taking home the top prize, which was usually a cold Pepsi. She loved to laugh and, like the sun coming up in the East, you could count on her to call you early in the morning, before you could think clearly, on April Fool's Day, to pull a good prank. She used to say that the healthiest thing you could do for yourself was to be happy and laugh. She was always happy and loved to laugh. She would get the giggles when her daughter Patricia was around. If they were together in an environment where laughing would not be appropriate, then Maxine would make Patricia go sit on the other side of the room.
In her late 50s, she went to school and became a professional cake decorator and candy maker. She created a successful business as a baker. She made hundreds of cakes over the years. Customers have said that she could look at a picture and make an exact replica of a cake or candy. She was never afraid of a challenge. She passed that spirit onto her children by teaching them to never be afraid to try. Without fail, when her children would say to her, "I love you", she would respond with "I love you more".
Maxine is survived by her six children, eight grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and two nephews. Her children are Steven Warren Groner, Mary Catherine Reed (Jay), Dr. Sheila Ann Joyner (Owen), David Eugene Groner (Anna), Linda Lucille Shankel (US Army Staff Sergeant Troy Shankel) and Patricia Marie Day (Bradley). Surviving grandchildren include Christopher Brian Haile (Lauren), Jason Eric Haile, Rachel Ann Clayborne (Mike), Angela Marie Karlinger (JJ), Brian Adam Perrin, US Army E-5 Sergeant Timothy Michael Edwards, Tyler Mitchel Edwards, Margo Taylor Edwards-Hyder (Johnaton), and granddog Trixie.
She was loved more than she ever knew and will be missed deeply, as she left the world better than she found it. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Arrangements are under the direction of Midland Cremation Joplin. MO. Interment of ashes will take place at St. Francis Cemetery of St. Paul, KS, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a charitable donation to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, the American Heart Association, or the Stroke Foundation.
