Fred Maxwell

Fred was called to his heavenly home on Sunday, February 21, 2021, at Wilmot Care Center in Wilmot, SD.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn will officiate. All friends and family members are invited.  A private family graveside service will be held at Wilmot City Cemetery.

Fred Wesley Maxwell was born on July 3, 1922, in Cook County, IL.  He was the son of Fred S. and Clara Ammann Maxwell.  After his father’s death in 1924, the family moved back to South Dakota to live with his grandma and two uncles on a farm east and north of Wilmot.  Fred attended country school at Lake #4 through the eighth grade.  He graduated from Wilmot High School with the Class of 1940.  After graduation Fred did some road construction and a lot of farming.

On April 14, 1943, Fred was united in marriage with Erma Hicks in Sisseton, SD.  They lived three miles east and one ¼ miles north of Wilmot until November of 1947 when their home burned to the ground.  They moved into Wilmot and lived with Fred’s mother for about five years.  They acquired their own place where they farmed and milked cows. They were blessed with three children and raised them on this farm. Jerry was born in 1949, Jeffery was born in 1954, and JudyAnn was born in 1956.

Fred sold the farm to his sons and moved to a new farm site west of the home place. Fred helped his sons for a while then decided he had enough! In 1976, he and Erma moved to Lake Preston, SD. Fred worked at House Building Co. (Raven). In the spring of 1977, the company closed and Fred began working privately. By fall, Fred and Erma returned to Wilmot, sold their farm place and moved into Wilmot. Fred started his own business as a carpenter.  He also drove school bus for a number of years, enjoying every minute of driving those kids around! He later worked as a maintenance man at Wilmot Community Home (now Wilmot Care Center) for 17 years.  At the age of 80 he decided it was time to retire.  They sold their home and moved into an apartment in Wilmot where he and Erma resided for 11 years.  He and Erma both moved into the care center together and enjoyed making friends and playing different kinds of games.

Fred was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot and held many offices while in the church.  He was active in the community where he enjoyed playing roles in the community programs. While farming, Fred was an active member and past president of the NFO.

Fred is survived by his wife of 77 years, Erma Maxwell of Wilmot, SD; his children: Jerry (Jeannine) Maxwell of Aberdeen, SD; Jeffrey (Carol) Maxwell of Watertown, SD; and JudyAnn (Greg) Schmitt of Wilmot, SD; seven grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 5 step-great grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; four step-great-great-grandchildren; godson, Lonny (Patricia) Ammann; four nephews; three nieces; and one special friend, Amy (Wayne) Longhenry of Bellingham, MN.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents: Fred Sr. and Clara; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Claud and Lillian Hicks; sister and brother-in-law: Catherine and Ronald Hensely; sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Gordon and Mavis Webster; and step-grandson, Derrick Dalton.

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