Maxine Hawk

Maxine (Alta) Dierking Hawk, 96, a long time Jefferson resident passed away Monday, November 14, 2016, at the Regency Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jefferson.

She was born in Sioux City, Iowa on December 17, 1919, to William Henry and Bertha Grace Travis Dierking. She grew up in Sioux City and attended the University of South Dakota and later the University of Iowa where she graduated in 1942. She met her future husband, Merton Vincent Hawk at the University of Iowa on a blind date set up by a fraternity brother, Maurie White, a former sports writer for the Des Moines Register and Tribune.

Maxine worked as a radio copy writer and program director for women’s programs for KTRI in Sioux City and later at KHMO in Hannibal, Missouri during the war years while Merton served in the Navy Dental Corps as a Second Lieutenant. She and Merton were married on May 12, 1946 in Sioux City and temporarily resided in Manilla, Iowa with Merton’s parents. They moved to Jefferson on November 11, 1946, at which time Merton set up his dental practice on the second floor of the Jefferson Telephone Company and later moved to a medical office building on East Lincoln Way.

Maxine was a dedicated wife and mother with all her energies, concern and love devoted to her husband and sons. She served as a Presbyterian VBS director for several years, Cub Scout den mother and director of the Greene County Easter Passion Play for several years. She was also a member of Eastern Star, Friday Club, Garden Club and Women’s Club. She also had a passion for the residents and staff and was a strong advocate and sponsor for the work of Genesis Development.

She loved to travel, especially on cruises, although in earlier years family vacations to the West Coast and Midwest were common. She also enjoyed fishing with family on annual trips to Minnesota and later to Lake Panorama and the St. Johns River in Florida. Her other hobbies included knitting and sewing, baking and reading.  She is probably most remembered for her baking, especially homemade sour dough bread, homemade fudge, pies and cookies - all of which she enjoyed sharing with neighbors and friends. She had recently shared that she could not remember buying a loaf of bread since Saba’s Bakery closed (circa 1970’s). She was also an avid reader and supporter of the Jefferson Library where she was a “friend of the library” and served as a Trustee.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Merton V. Hawk in 2009; parents, William Henry and Bertha Grace Travis Dierking; brothers, Leonard and Warren Travis Dierking; and sister, Norma (Carlton) Mabee.

She is survived by her three sons: Thomas Craig and his son, Thomas James Hawk of Jacksonville, Fla.; James Travis and Bonnie Hawk and their children, Travis Hawk and Laura and Luke Stobie and grandchildren Olivia and Claire, all of St. Louis, Mo.; and Daniel Dean and Ruth Hawk and their children Trenton and Jazz Hawk, all of Houston, Texas.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date as her body was donated to the University of Iowa Medical School. Burial for Maxine and Merton will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.  Memorials can be sent in her name to Genesis Development in Jefferson.

The Brown Funeral Home of Jefferson is assisting  the family.

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Jefferson Bee & Herald
Address: 200 N. Wilson St.
Jefferson, IA 50129

Phone:(515) 386-4161