Maxine M. Santala

Maxine Mae Santala was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was at the same time, intense and fun, fastidious and happy, frugal and generous. As a bright and honest woman, she was a natural teacher and an example to others. She delighted in her friendships and her family was important in her life. Maxines story began just a few months after the U.S. stock market crash that sent the nation into economic depression. Yet families managed to make life pleasant in the midst of harsh conditions by their resilient spirit and hopeful outlook. One such family in Muskegon, Michigan couldnt have been happier at the time, because they were expecting their second child. Charles and Margaret (Griswold) Thompson, and their young son Louie, welcomed the birth of Maxine on January 3, 1930. The two children were loved and supported by their stay-at-home mother and their father who worked at Campbell Wyant and Cannon foundry. Very sadly, their mother died when Maxine was only three years old, and they were subsequently raised by their grandmother, Mabel Huddleston. Understandably, Maxine formed a strong bond with her father and remained close to him until his death in 1963. In her home and school life at Oakview Elementary School, Maxine was nurtured in her gifts that included playing organ and the steel guitar. Her early love of reading, music and dance remained with Maxine throughout her life. As a young woman, Max married Paul Appel, an excellent auto mechanic, and they moved to Denver with their first child, John. Their family grew to include Nancy and Paula before the two of them divorced in 1952. Maxine moved back to Muskegon, and there she met Russell Hosler who worked at Highland Park Dairy. They married in March of 1953 and bought a home on Eighth Street in Muskegon. Darlene and Karen were born of this union. Russ had four children from a previous marriageRuss, Ron, Barb and Jerryso it was of little wonder that the family needed extra help. Though Maxine managed to keep a very tidy home, it was helpful to have a nanny. Millie came to live with the family, and over the 18 years, she was with them. She became a lifelong friend. Maxine was employed as a bookkeeper at a local department store for a number of years. She moved on to work at Kersco Corporation where she retired from her supervisory position in 1990 after 24 years there. Always hard-working, she still made sure she had time for her family and friends. Saturday night meant a card game with friends at their home, and summers were spent camping with family, first in a tent and later, stepping up to a camper. Once on one trip to Washington DC in 1961, the family memories began even before they reached their destination. With all the kids in the car and barely underway, the car transmission went out in Lansing. They had to unexpectedly spend the entire day there. But a pleasant surprise was that the owner of the repair shop had his mother take the family to the zoo while the work was being done a pleasant memory. Still, they didnt let the calamity or the financial misfortune stop them. They continued on to completely enjoy their vacation together. In 1966, Maxine and Russ built a cabin on 10 acres along the White River in White Cloud, Michigan. At one point during construction, Maxine and Deloris, Maxs sister-in-law, managed to back the car into the newly-built foundation. Of course, that produced lots of laughs for everyone around. The more Russ sputtered, the harder Max and Delores laughed. The whole family had a great time building the cabin and hanging out whenever they could, especially during deer hunting season. And, yes, Maxine was a deer-hunter herself! The cabin became a beloved gathering place for the extended family for years to come. Max was justifiably proud of her home, not only because it was always clean, but because it welcomed all the people she loved. It was a harsh blow to the family when Russ died suddenly from a heart attack in 1975. Maxine went on with her life as a single woman for 16 years before she was blessed to meet Frank Santala in 1990. While visiting her brother in Arizona, Louie arranged a blind date for Maxine and Frank. It was love at first sight. The two were married August 17, 1991 in Muskegon, and once again Maxs family grew larger to include Franks three daughters: Jan, Debbie and Darlene. Though the couple lived in Arizona, they made visits back to Muskegon and to Franks family in Wisconsin. In Apache Junction, Arizona, they were both officers of V.F.W. Auxiliary Post #9399, where Maxine was a lifetime member. Whether sightseeing or dancing, playing cards or volunteering, their life in the south combined the pleasures of warm weather and good friends. In 2005 with Maxine continuing to be plagued by her illness, she and Frank moved back to Michigan to be near her family. Her health continued to decline gradually. After numerous recent hospitalizations, she came home the last week of her life, and with the assistance of Harbor Hospice, her final days were spent surrounded by her family. She peacefully passed away Monday, May 24, 2010 at the age of 80. Mrs. Maxine M. "Max" Santala, of Norton Shores, Michigan, is survived by her husband, Frank; sons, Russell (Glenda) Hosler of AL, Ronald Hosler of Muskegon; daughters, Barbara (Ted) Olsen of Muskegon, Nancy Woodruff of Lansing, Paula Gilbert of Muskegon, Darlene Hosler of Muskegon, Karen Payne of Muskegon, Darlene (Les) Brandt, Janice (Cliff) Drzonek, Debra Brinkmeier all of WI; and many, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and her pets, Charlie and Coco, which she affectionately referred to as her boys. She was preceded in death by her former husband, Russell Hosler; sons, John Appel, Gerald Hosler; and brother, Lewis Thompson. A service to celebrate her life will be held Friday, May 28, 2010, 11:00 AM at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Pastor Dave Schoonbeck officiating. Friends and relatives are invited to meet the family on Thursday, 6-8 PM and on Friday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory for the family or to sign the online guest book.