Donna Maxson

Donna Rae Maxson, 82, of Germantown Hills, IL, passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Donna was born on September 23, 1941, in Washington, IL, a daughter of Richard and Wilda (McCulley) Wiese. She married Jack Adams in 1960 and later married Larry Maxson on April 22, 1982, in Nashville, TN. Larry preceded her in death on March 11, 2023.

She is survived by her children, Mindy (Kenny) Hopp of Washington and Brian Adams of Atlanta, IL; and siblings, Marcia (Ronald) Bennett of Logansport, IN, and Keith (Joyce) Wiese of Raymore, MO. She was a proud grandma to Abby Adams of Lincoln, NE, and Brock and Maci Hopp of Washington; and proud great-grandma to Clara Belle Latimmer of Lincoln, NE. She doesn't want anyone to forget her love for Cassie Rae and Buddy Boo. They were her pride and joy.

She was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Adams; brother, Karl Wiese; and daughter-in-law, Lisa Kuhlman.

Donna graduated in 1959 from Washington Community High School and worked weekends at Flanigan's Grocery Store so she could have enough money to get the latest Elvis release. She and her sister made four trips to Graceland. She managed to work at the grocery store until she graduated and was hired to work for Attorney Rae C. Heiple on the square. She later worked as an administrative assistant at Caterpillar for several managers and loved her job. She retired from the Engine Division in January of 2002, after 30 years.

In her life after retirement, she began doing crafts. Larry would help her by cutting items out and she would paint them. Before she knew it, she had enough items to enter craft sales and set up a booth. She eventually had to move her crafts to the basement and the rest was history. Every year, she would open her store and she became known as "The Christmas Lady." She loved decorating her house and enjoyed sitting outside watching the birds.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2024, at Mason-White Funeral Home in Washington. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will immediately follow at Glendale Cemetery in Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Donna's memory to St. Jude Midwest Affiliate. Donna's memorial website and online condolences may be accessed at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.