Maxine Ruby (Schafer) Rogowski

Maxine R. Rogowski, 84, of Walker, Michigan, died peacefully on February 15, 2018. She was born January 3, 1934 in Hersey Township, Osceola County, Michigan, the daughter of O. Grant Schafer and Geneva Elizabeth (Truman) Schafer.

Maxine graduated from Ludington High School in Ludington, Michigan in 1952. She married Kenneth Phillips the same year and together they had three daughters.

Maxine worked at Grand Valley State University for many years until retirement. As a public school employee, she was a member of the Michigan Education Association (MEA). She was a strong advocate for public schools and her colleagues as Education Support Professionals (ESP) and became very involved in her union. She served on the MEA ESP Caucus Executive Board from 1995 until 2011, the MEA Board of Directors, the MEA-Retired Board of Directors and many other committees. She was a delegate to the MEA Representative Assembly as well as delegate to the National Education Association (MEA) Representative Assembly in Washington, D.C.

Maxine was a wealth of knowledge, a historian and a “walking encyclopedia” related to the MEA and she was often consulted for her expertise even after she no longer served on any of the boards and committees.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband Richard, her parents, and her brothers William C. Schafer, Francis Robert Schafer and Richard L. Schafer. She is survived by her three children, Lucinda K. Erskine of Walker, Pamela S. Smith of Fruitland Park, Florida and Brenda L. Phillips of Walker; a brother, Walter E. Schafer of Chico, California, sisters, Carolyn Schafer Keys and Judith K. Schafer, both of Sacramento, California and siblings-in-law Teresa Kludt and Ernesto Tomasilli. Also surviving are her four grandchildren, Mary Katherine (Katey) Erskine of Holland, Taben K. Upson, of Muskegon, David E. Kiekintveld of Zeeland and Kyle A. Kiekintveld of Grandville; four great grandchildren, Dylan T. Erskine, Clayton A. Green, Logan J. Green, Alan T. Kiekintveld; ten nieces and nephews and many great nieces and great nephews too numerous to name.

A private graveside service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan at a future date.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to Kelley’s Animal Clinic where she adopted her beloved dog and close companion C-Jay.  4011 Remembrance Road N.W., Walker, Michigan 49534.

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