Maxine LaVerne (Fuhrman) Bultemeier

Maxine LaVerne (Fuhrman) Bultemeier, a beloved mother of three children and lifelong friend to many, passed away peacefully in her home on July 14, 2020 at the age of 90 years old with coffee and cookies by her side. Maxine was born on November 3, 1929 to Louis and Marie Fuhrman in Decatur. She was baptized, raised, confirmed, and wed in Friedheim Lutheran Church. She was married to Vernon August Bultemeier on September 23, 1950 and moved to Fort Wayne, where she raised her three beloved children, Jane, John, and Jill. Her family and many friends loved Maxine and will always remember her quick wit, loyalty, strong faith, and delight in acting as a mother figure to anyone lucky enough to grace her doorstep. She went by many nicknames, including “Mickey”, “Max”, “Grandma”, “Kiki”, and “Mom”. Maxine maintained close friendships that lasted 85 years, an accomplishment that few have the honor of being able to claim. In her lifetime, she was an active member of Friedheim Lutheran Church, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, and Grace Lutheran Church. She volunteered at the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry for many years and held it dear to her heart. Maxine will be remembered for her open door, great stories, and always having cookies and coffee waiting for her guests. She graced the lives of everyone she met with humor and the desire to leave the world a better place through acts of faith and service. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends who became family to her through years of laughter and game nights. Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Vern, her son John, and her siblings, Velma Schuller, Evelyn Hitzeman, Luella Vardaman, Elmer Fuhrman, and Mable Springer. She is survived by her two daughters and their spouses, Jill (Evan) McCaw of Bozeman, MT and Jane (Tom) Straub of Columbia City, IN; her dear, beloved friends, Betty Schroeder and Betty Rekeweg; her grandchildren, Joel Bultemeier, Ellery and Jessica McCaw, Matt (Lyndsy) Straub, and Sarah (Brad) Pearl; and her great grandchildren, Johnathan, Madeline, Dylan, Austin, Madison, Mackenna, and Peyton. She will be missed by her beloved and immensely caring nieces, nephews, and extended family who honored her and treated her as the family matriarch. There will be a private burial at Covington Memorial Gardens and a memorial service will be held at a later date due to COVID 19. Desired memorials and donations can be sent to Grace Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Columbia City. Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Home For Funerals, 6810 Old Trail Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46809 will be caring for services. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.elzey-patterson-rodakfuneralhome.com for the Bultemeier family.