LTC (ret.) Edward Stanley Maksim

January 21, 1929 - March 10, 2023

Edward was born on January 21 in the family home in New Hyde Park, New York, to Polish immigrants Stanley and Catherine. He attended St. Hedwig’s Elementary, following in the footsteps of his sisters Helen and Florence. He was an altar boy at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church and attended Seawanhaka High School in Garden City Park, NY. He learned to make soup from his mother, how to garden from his Grandmother Zuba, and pour concrete sidewalks and make household repairs from his father, who was employed as a shoemaker by Andrew Gellar. The house at 603 North 1st Street was built by Stanley and his friends from plans purchased from Sears and Roebuck, Co. and still stands today.

In 1946, at the age of 17, Edward was employed as a Polish Translator by the United Nations. When Edward joined the U.S. Army on January 30, 1947 he was assigned to the Military Police and apprehended a bank robber while searching for AWOL soldiers. He fought in the Indochina War in 1950 and in 1954 attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He fought in Vietnam and received the highest Vietnamese honor for the duties he performed there, as well as two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained in battle. He did two tours to Germany and then stepped in as the Regional National Guard Commander, where he was the military consultant to Governor Lamb before his retirement in 1972 following 25 years of service. He received a MBA at the University of Denver before beginning his painting business.

While at OCS at Fort Sill, he met Alice Jean Dezelle and they married in July of 1955. Alice Rebecca was born in Würzburg Army Hospital in Würzburg, Germany, Sara Katherine was born at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and John Paul was born at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver.

He was a lover of music, including Frank Sinatra (Girl from Ipanema) and Doris Day (Secret Love). He was a master puzzler and an incredible cook. He loved Colorado but missed the ocean. He was a member of Central Baptist Church in Aurora. He loved his family and traveled to his childhood home often.

Edward was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws Cliff and Lois Dezelle; sisters Helen Minnick and husband Dan, Florence Fiore and husband Alfred; sister-in-law Joyce Dezelle Hamilton; brother-in-law James Jay Dezelle, nephew Dan Minnick, Jr., niece Scotty Wall, and great niece Raegan Wall.

He is survived by his loving wife, Alice Jean, of the home; daughters Alice (Scott Wehrley) Maksim of Denver and Sara (Mike) Mazzo of Oklahoma; son John Paul Maksim of Aurora; grandchildren Evan (Abi) Mazzo, Jacob (Nisa) Maksim, and Ryan Mazzo; nieces and nephews - Kathy (Rick) Erdody, Rob (Epp) Minnick, Donna (John) Houman, Tim (Carol) Minnick, Richard (Linda) Fiore, Andrea (Ralph Towlen) Nydegger, Clifton Allen; great nieces and nephews Karen, Victoria, Caroline, Nicole, Melissa, Fred, Christian and Jason.

Graveside Services will be held at 2:15 PM, Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at Fort Logan National Cemetery.