Maxine Ann Lewis

Maxine Ann Lewis, 92, of Litchfield, passed away January 12, 2026, in Kearney. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am, January 17, 2026, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Hazard, Nebraska. Interment will follow the service at the Litchfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home in Kearney. In lieu of flowers, Memorials are suggested to Litchfield Cemetery or the family to be designated later. Maxine was born June 23, 1933, in rural Sherman County to Victor and Belle (Grudzinski) Kosmicki. She was the second child and raised with her 5 siblings in the Rockville area. Maxine attended school in rural Sherman County but only attended until the 8th grade as she needed to stay home and take care of her younger siblings and help her parents farm. At 17 years old, she moved to Grand Island to work as a grocery store checker. After her mother passed away, she moved to Litchfield with her father and siblings, and they operated the café and that is where she met her future husband, Merlyn Lewis. On September 15, 1956, Maxine and Merlyn were married in Hazard. In their early years they farmed and owned a dairy farm near Litchfield. They later owned and operated Max’s Market in Litchfield for 40 years. Maxine can be remembered for her countless years of dedicated involvement to the community of Litchfield. She was a member of St. Gabriel Catholic Church Alter Society, Dads, Lads, and Lassie Hunt, and Litchfield American Legion Auxiliary. As her children got older Maxine enjoyed bowling with her friends and loved traveling to casinos to test her luck with the slot machines. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. Maxine is survived by her son, Mitchell and Susie Lewis of Roosevelt, AZ, daughters, Michelle Lewis and Randy Allen of Kearney, Lisa and Randy Meister of Omaha, NE, Sandy and Justin Wagner of Springfield, NE, grandchildren, Chris, Calvin, Cassie, Megan, Cordell, Tad, Jacob, Alex, Elizabeth, Alyson, Ryan, Braden, Kate, Abby, and Jack, great grandchildren, Harlie, Paxton, Brody, Bronson, Vivian, Mia, Beckham, Mason, Blakely, Cashton, Lane, Katherine, Krew, Cole, and Ryleigh, great great granddaughter Ivy, sister Rita Lewis of Litchfield, and many nieces and nephews. Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Merlyn in 2018, son Anthony Lewis in 1971, parents Victor and Belle Kosmicki, in laws, Melvin and Trena Lewis, siblings, William and Leona Schuda, Lavern and Judy Kosmicki, Elaine Anstine, Larry Lucas, and Tom Kosmicki, brother in law, Cortez Lewis, nieces Holly Lewis and Sheryl Schuda Garrett.

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Maxine Ann Lewis

June 23, 1933 - January 12, 2026