Maxine Boomgarden

Maxine Faye Boomgarden, 86, passed away on June 22, 2024 at the Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls. Inurnment will be held privately by the family.

Maxine was born on June 8, 1938 in Eldora, Iowa to Lawerence and Fern (Hutzel) Balvanz. She graduated from Eldora high school in 1956. She was united in marriage to Ralph Boomgarden on July 1, 1956 at the Church of Christ in Eldora and spent 62 wonderful years in marriage before Ralph’s passing in 2019.

Maxine was a very talented person, holding many jobs over the years. Secretary, bookkeeper, short order cook, restaurant owner/operator, and receptionist for a veterinary clinic. She excelled at arts and crafts, making family members seasonal decorations for their houses, personalized shirts and sweaters, knick-knacks, and pajamas for all the grandchildren as they grew up.

She was also an excellent cook, making many a family holiday very special. Apple pies, decorated cakes, and chocolate candies were always part of the fare. She would help anyone wanting to learn, but the result never tasted quite the same since she cooked by taste and feel without using written recipes.

Maxine loved to play board games and passed this passion to her grandchildren. Every visit included games of Yahtzee, Aggravation, and when they were older, Parcheesi. The shouts of excitement would rattle the windows when a lucky roll of the dice would knock off an opponent or win the game and will be a fond memory of playing Parcheesi with Grandma. One of her greatest accomplishments was being a guiding hand and a bedrock of support for her grandchildren. She was very proud that they all graduated from college: one becoming a principal for a school, another an engineer, and two becoming doctors.

Maxine will be dearly missed by friends and family.

Maxine is proceeded in death by her parents, her husband Ralph, and 3 brothers: Dennis Balvanz, Jerry Balvanz, and Keith Balvanz.

Maxine is survived by her sister, Darla Mabe; sons Kevin (Mary Jo) Boomgarden and Craig (Shelley) Boomgarden; grandchildren Megan (Brick) Carter, Dr. Erich (Elizabeth) Boomgarden, Lisa (Taylor) Sheffels, and Dr. Sarah (Carson) Lutterman; great-grandchildren Catherine, Emma, Benjamin Boomgarden and Mackenzie Sheffels; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the compassionate staff at the Hansen Family Hospital for the hospice care and the very caring staff at the Scenic Living Community in Iowa Falls where she resided for the last several years.