Earlier this month, my grandmother and final grandparent died. We had just celebrated her 90th birthday in September 2017. She was a sweet lady, always smiling and willing to help anyone in need. Among her many grandchildren, she was known for her “Italian” spaghetti, though to this day I have no idea what that really means since spaghetti is an Italian dish (I think she used an Italian seasoning and left the grease on the hamburger, but I don’t know for sure . . . regardless, it was delicious). She also always made cinnamon rolls with raisins in them. I loved them this way, but my father, her son, hated raisins. It always made me laugh when he’d complain and she’d just tell him to pick them out. My fondest memory of her was when I was in high school. During the summer I would ride my bike into town, at least a 5.5 mile pedal fest from my door to hers, before going to work at the local grocery store. I would go to her house to get cleaned up before my shift, and then I would have breakfast with her. Of course, I have many other memories with her, and I will always cherish them. After she died, my aunts and uncles honored me by asking me to write her obituary. I did, and it is what follows. I hope she would have approved. I like to think she clipped it out in heaven and put in in the stack of every other news article I have ever written, just as she did while she was alive.
Maxine Delilah (Schlicht) Vogts, 90 of Canton, Kansas, passed away January 7, 2018, at Pine Village in Moundridge, Kansas. She was born on September 2, 1927, in Spring Valley Township in Canton, Kansas, to Emil and Bertha (Lehner) Schlicht. She had one older brother, Harold, and one younger sister, Carol Jean.
Maxine attended Spring Valley School and then Lutheran Church School before graduating from Canton High School in 1946. Following graduation, she worked at Musick grocery store and Canton Sundries.
A few years later, Maxine decided to pursue a career as a beautician. Maxine went to VS Academy in Wichita, earning her license in 1950. After graduation, she honed her craft by working at Madeline’s Beauty Shop in Canton.
Roland and Maxine Schlicht married on October 5, 1952. They were the first couple to be married in the new Immanuel Lutheran Church south of Canton. The church was dedicated on September 14, 1952. Maxine was baptized and confirmed there. Her membership in the church remained throughout her life. She gave back to the congregation by playing the organ. She was a substitute organist starting at the age of 16 years old and continued to play for the following 74 years. She recently retired from the keys, playing her last church service this past October.
In 1960, Maxine opened her own beauty shop in her and Roland’s home north of Canton, which they moved into the year prior, and operated if for 41 years under the name, “Maxine’s Beauty Shoppe.” During her years of cutting and styling hair, Maxine taught herself new techniques, moving from pin curls and permanents given with machines to cold waves, brush rollers and machineless perms. Her business also allowed her to give haircuts to second- and third-generation clients. Outside of her own shop, though, she also tended to the hairstyles of residents of Shiloh Manor, doing so since the facility opened in 1966 until it closed in 2006.
Outside of her salon, Maxine was a member of the Legion Auxiliary, LWML, Ladies Aide as Secretary for many years, a member of the McPherson County Council, and Canton Senior Center board. Roland and Maxine also attended many American Legion conventions over the years. Roland and Maxine also enjoyed gardening. Maxine took pride in the flowers she grew.
Maxine was known for her cinnamon rolls often containing raisins, sugar cookies, pies, and her grandchildren’s favorite “Italian Spaghetti.” Visitors to her home often left with a plate of cookies or cinnamon rolls as Maxine’s way of expressing how much she cared for others. Maxine also enjoyed hosting family holiday meals. She loved having everyone she cared for together to enjoy food and fellowship, and often she would host spontaneous gatherings just to get everyone together to share a meal. She treasured seeing and visiting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In retirement, Maxine kept busy. She thoroughly enjoyed going to the senior center for coffee, pot-luck dinners, playing games and the hours of visiting with friends. She also loved spending time with her sister.
Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother.
She is survived by her sons Stuart (Sue), Steven (Karen), Stacy (Brenda), and her daughter Sandra (Loren) Schmidt. She is also survived by her 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter, her sister Carol Jean Friend, and a host of relatives and friends.
Memorials have been established with Immanuel Lutheran Church and Canton Senior Center.
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