Marlys "Maxine" Runkle

The funeral service for  Marlys “Maxine” Runkle, 90, a longtime Stewartville,MN  area resident will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday (August 23, 2019) at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Lyle Fritsch and Rev. Justin Kumfer officiating.  Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville,MN. Mrs. Runkle died on Tuesday (August  20,  2019)  of natural causes, at River Bend Senior Living in Rochester, MN. where she had been a resident for the past 3 months.                     

Marlys Maxine Runkle was born May 19, 1929 in Bennington Twsp., Mower County, MN to Bernard  and Amanda(Miland) Thorson. She grew up on the family farm in rural Racine attended country school and Stewartville H.S graduating in 1947. Maxine was married on August 3, 1947 to Kenneth C. Runkle. The couple farmed in rural Racine for 6 years before moving to Rochester, and then to Stewartville in 1959 where  they raised their family and have continued to make their home.  Maxine was a homemaker  and Ken was a longtime IBM employee. Mr. Runkle died on December 5, 2008. Maxine was a long-time member of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville, where she taught religious education and was a member of  it’s Ladies Aid.  She was active in her kid’s Boy and Girl Scout activities and was a volunteer at the State Hospital in Rochester. She enjoyed league bowling and was an avid reader. Maxine loved being a Grandma and was always available to babysit her grandkids. She enjoyed visiting with her friends and loved time spent with family. 

Maxine is survived by her daughter – Deb(Kevin) Sieling  and son – Larry both of Queen Creek,AZ ; daughter-in-law – Susan Runkle of Stewartville; 13 grandchildren;19 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson  and many nieces and  nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband  Kenneth, sons Gary and Dale, granddaughter – Holly, her  parents and 2 sisters – Loraine Johnson and Oretta Heidtke and 2 brothers – Norwin Thorson and Aldean Thorson.

A time of visitation for family and friends will take place 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Friday morning. The family suggests memorials to Wee Care at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stewartville. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Maxine are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marlys "Maxine" Runkle, please visit our floral store.