Submitted by: Dan Rich

Catherine Maxine Kuespert

Aug. 10, 1920 - July 6, 2001

South Bend Tribune 7/8/2001

Catherine Maxine Kuespert, 80, of Garden Lane, South Bend, Ind., passed away at 8 a.m. Friday, July 6, in the home of her daughter, Karen Lane on Bloomfield Place, South Bend.

Mrs. Kuespert was born in South Bend to the late Clarence and Catherine (Wyland) Laughman. She was a lifelong resident of South Bend, graduating from South Bend Central High School in 1937. On Aug. 23, 1941, she married Stanley D. Kuespert, who preceded her in death on Aug. 28, 1998.

In addition to Karen Lane, she is survived by daughters Kathleen Heinrich of South Bend and Norva (Brian) Shidler of Plymouth, Ind.; sons, Stanley "Rusty" (Elaine) Kuespert of Huntsville, Ala., and Dennis (Elaine) Kuespert of Mishawaka, Ind.; 27 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Letha Price; and brothers, Clarence "Gus" Laughman of Tucson, Ariz., Robert "Bud" (Phyllis) Laughman, Neil (Karen) Laughman and Gene (Dorothy) Laughman, all of South Bend; a brother-in-law, K. Clem Kuespert and his wife, Elfrieda.

Many nieces and nephews also survive. Maxine is also survived by very special family friends, Spence Benjamin of Niles, Mich., Pastor Bill Beyer and his family of Dixon, Ill., and her wonderful care-giver, Lori Jackson of South Bend, and her special buddy, Kay Tuberville of South Bend.

Maxine retired in 1981 after 40 years at Robertson's Department Store. Everyone knew her by her contagious laugh. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and the Loyal Order of the Moose.

To Maxine, her family was EVERYTHING. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and especially enjoyed playing cards on Sunday nights. She had been known to enjoy occasional trips to the casinos in Michigan City and in Freeport, Bahamas, where she also enjoyed snorkeling - Well, she didn't really enjoy snorkeling, but she tried it at age 79.

Friends and family may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today, July 8, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday in the Guisinger Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 9, in the funeral home. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, Ind.

Contributions in Catherine Maxine Kuespert's name may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.