Maxine Lahti

Maxine Ellen Sprague Lahti died Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the age of 103 in Chelsea, Michigan. Maxine was born June 19, 1906 to the late Rollin and Zella Mae Sprague of Elyria, Ohio. Five years later the family moved to Monroe, Michigan and became life-long members of St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Her late sister, Jeannette was born in 1914. Maxine graduated from Monroe High School, followed by her freshman year of college at Hillsdale College in Michigan. She transferred to Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio, a Private Methodist-affiliated institution, where she received a Librarian Certification. Maxine received a second major in French Language from University of Michigan. She then was able to gain employment as a professional librarian. In four years, she would add the Master of Arts in Library Science Degree from the University of Michigan to her credentials. Maxine moved to Marquette to be a staff librarian at Northern Michigan University where she met Hugo Lahti, a Chemistry and Physics major. They married in 1943. Shortly after, Maxine took a position at the University of Michigan Law Library in Ann Arbor. In 1950, Maxine became the Faculty Librarian at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, developed and maintained the University’s Education Library Resources Center, and taught Library Science courses. Hugo, Maxine, a beloved Siamese cat named Kissa, and her now deceased sister-in-law, Dr. Lillian Lahti, were Whitewater residents until Hugo’s death in 1968. Maxine returned to live with her widowed mother in Monroe, Michigan. Maxine’s generosity was exemplified by her establishing a scholarship in Hugo’s name at University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and established the Maxine Sprague Lahti Foundation for the Performing Arts in Monroe, Michigan. Maxine began part-time work at the Monroe County Library, and wrote the Forward to the book, Historical Sketch of General Custer by James H. Kidd. Maxine became a “Michigan snowbird” and eventually moved to Tucson, Arizona to live. In 2000, Maxine returned to Michigan and resided at Chelsea Retirement Community until her death. Maxine is survived by family in Wisconsin including one sister-in-law, Clara Lahti, two nephews, Mark and Daniel Lahti, two nieces, Diane Lahti Fischer, Kathleen Lahti Popp, five great nephews, three great nieces and five great-great nieces. If she was asked about her longevity, Maxine was apt to say, “I inherited my longevity genes from my mother.” Then she would add, “Mine has been a long life, but it’s been a long, good life.” Maxine will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Interment services will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 11:00 AM in Historic Woodland Cemetery in Monroe, MI, the Rev. Evans C. Bentley, pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church will officiate. A memorial service celebrating Maxine’s life will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 1:00 PM at the Chelsea Retirement Center Chapel in Dancey Hall with Pastor Beth Foster Celebrating. The Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph in Monroe, assisted with funeral arrangements.