Twyla Maxon Lindsay, 89, of Wayne, died Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 at her home at Kinship Pointe in Wayne.
Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at the Laurel Cemetery in Laurel. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne. A reception will follow in the church Fellowship Hall. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 at Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne.
Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Sunday School or Orphan Grain Train.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Twyla Marie Maxon Lindsay was born March 30, 1934 on the family farm in Cuming County to Ernest and Edna (Klawitter) Koopmann. A lifelong devotion to Christ began with her baptism at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Howells. She continued her walk with God through confirmation and the church remained a focal point throughout her life.
She attended rural school #56 of Cuming County through the fourth grade. Her family moved into Wisner where she graduated in May 1951. Following high school graduation, she taught three years in rural school District #66 and #56 of Cuming County. The summer of 1954 she worked in Estes Park, Colorado, which became one of her favorite places on earth.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, John Maxon and Twyla were married Nov. 14, 1954 at St. Paul’s Lutheran church in Wisner. The couple moved to a family farm near Laurel where they raised a son, Blake, and a daughter, Dee. After 31 years of marriage, John passed away in October 1986. Following his death, Twyla moved to Bassett where she taught fifth grade, and the K-8 gifted program for two years.
Through square dancing, she met and married Russell Lindsay of Wayne Aug. 19, 1989. For the next five years, Twyla taught kindergarten and the gifted program in the Osmond Public Schools, retiring after 31 years of teaching in 1994, followed by 10 years of substitute teaching. She was a beloved teacher and several of her students kept in contact long after she was their educator.
Twyla and Russ spent several winters as snowbirds in Casa Grande, Arizona. She said those years spent in Casa Grande were some of her happiest. After 22 years of marriage, Russell passed away June 17, 2011.
When young, she did not like traveling, but ended up being a seasoned world traveler - visiting all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, and Europe multiple times. She especially enjoyed visiting her kids and grandchildren.
While living in Laurel, Twyla was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran church, she was a Sunday School teacher and member of ELT Club. At Grace Lutheran Church in Wayne, she was a long-time member of the Altar Guild, served on the memorial committee, a church office and bulletin board volunteer, and a member of a Bible study group. She enjoyed volunteering with Orphan Grain Train Friends. Twyla was a loyal friend and was most proud of her deep 50+ year friendships with her both Laurel friends and rural teachers group.
Survivors include a son Blake, spouse Gina of Carlsbad California, step-grandchildren, David and Aimee Jameson; daughter Dee, spouse Tom O’Meara of Olathe Kansas, grandchildren Molly and Jackie; step-son, Ken Lindsay, friend, Nancy Mullally and grandchildren Stephanie, Jason, Beth and Johnna and great grandchildren; step daughter, Diane (Lindsay), spouse Bill Long, grandchildren Zach and Andrew Long and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Edna Koopmann; sister, Darleen Frevert; husbands, John Maxon and Russ Lindsay.
