Maxine Clare Heinrichs

Maxine Clare Anderson was born on October 11, 1941, to Ted and Rosalie ANderson. She was welcomed by an older brother, Stephen, and later joined by a sister, Lynette. She grew up on the family dairy in Kingsburg and was very involved at Kingsburg Methodist Church, Kings River Elementary school and 4-H.

When she was about 12 years old, she was at a church summer camp. Two majors things happened that week - the bad, she was running backward and broke her arm. The good - she repented of her sins and put her trust in Jesus for salvation. This was a very important event in her life.

Maxine graduated from Kingsburg High School in 1959. In the summer of 1958, another important event happened in her life. She and some girl friends went to the SUnday Evening Community Church service at the park in Kingsburg. One of her friends had invited two young men they had met to join them at the service. One of those young men was Johnny Heinrichs, Johnny called her and asked her out that next week and the rest is history! The next three years included a long-distance relationship while he completed his alternative service work in Camarillo, CA. Maxine was busy attending Fresno City College where she graduated as the number one business student.

On August 5, 1961 she and Johnny, the love of her life, were married in a beautiful ceremony at the Kingsburg Methodist Church. It was so hot, they were worried the minister would pass out! After a year living in Fresno, they moved to a cute little house in Dinuba. Maxine loved her job as a medical transcriber and Johnny was a barber. At the end of 1966 they had their first daughter, Sheri, then just 13 months later, in 1968, Sandi was born.

In 1971 they bought Dinuba Typewriter and Gospel Supply with Jonas and Lavina Hofer, Johnny's sister. Maxine enjoyed working with the customers, doing the bookkeeping reading a lot of books in the store. The family was very active at Zion Mennonite Brethren Church, where Maxine had been a member since their wedding. She was an Awana leader for many years and loved being involved in their Sunday School class.

In 1977 Johnny and Maxine bought a house on Road 74 in Dinuba with 10 acres of plums and the family moved to the country. A few years later they sold the store and Johnny started farming on land they had inherited from her father. Maxine went from two days a week at the store to full time stay at home mom. Maxine loved being a mom! She was always interested in her girls' lives - taking them shopping, having their friends over and going to school concerts and events.

When the girls were young, the family enjoyed many wonderful trips together. Several of the trips revolved around the Christian Booksellers Association Conventions. Meeting various Christian authors and singers was always fun. As the girls got older, Johnny and Maxine started to travel more without the girls. Cruises with friends and vacations at the coast. One of their trips was a trip to Europe. They rented a car and found bed and breakfasts to stay at along the way. They also bought a fifth wheel travel trailer and drove across the country.

As the girls grew up and got married, Maxine started her favorite job - MorMor (Swedish for Mother's Mother). In 1992, as they were building the home they would live in for the last 32 years of their marriage, Brittney was born to Sheri and Anthony Balakian. Soon there was Jacob, then Sandi had David and Cassie. When Sheri was pregnant with twins it almost drove Maxine crazy waiting to know if it was boys or girls. When Bailey and Maddie were born she went straight to Macy's to buy two adorable little dresses. After Sandi had Lindsay and Sheri had Tommy the final count was eight. Later, when Sandi married Kevin Beckenhauer, she added 4 stepchildren to the group. MorMor loved helping with the kids. Going along on Dr.'s appointments, babysitting and always celebrating everything in their lives. All of her grandchildren have wonderful memories of time spent with MorMor. But it wasn't just her grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews were a very big part of her life.

Unfortunately, as time went on, Maxine's many health issues became more and more debilitating. She spent more time at home, but still enjoyed all of her family and life with Johnny. In June of 2024 she moved into Palm Village. Johnny put a recliner in her room, and they spent every afternoon together still.

On Tuesday morning, December 31, surrounded by her family, she quietly drew her last breath and went to be with the Lord. She was 83 years old and had been married to Johnny for 63 years.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Rosalie Anderson and siblings, Stephen Anderson and Lynette Jordan.

She is survived by her husband, Johnny Heinrichs of Reedley, her daughter, Sheri and husband Anthony Balakian of Dinuba, her daughter, Sandi and husband Kevin Beckenhauer of Reedley, and her grandchildren, Brittney and Micah Thiesen, Jacob and Sierra Balakian, David and Abi Unruh, Cassie and Tanner Lowrey, Bailey and Noah Krahn, Maddie and Jordan Riezebos, Lindsay Unruh and Tommy Balakian, 4 stepgrandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.