An extraordinary and generous lady, Maxine was born in Hoquiam on March 22, 1915. She lived in Hoquiam with her brother Karl and her sisters Geraldine and Carmen and their parents. After graduating from Hoquiam High School she attended business school.
In March 1939 she married Frederick Joseph Le Penske, Jr. She continued to work in Hoquiam but spent many weekends and months at Longmire on Mt. Rainier. Fred was in the Army and they lived at Fort Lawton when son Fred was born. Her daughter Geraldine was born shortly after World War II and the family then moved to Germany where Fred assisted with the Berlin Airlift and the restoration of Germany. After nearly four years in Germany they moved to Gainesville, Florida, where Colonel Le Penske was Professor of Military Science at the University of Florida. They moved back home to Washington in 1956 where she worked for the Highline School District before going to work as a bookkeeper and business manager for a construction company.
She was widowed in 1969 when Fred passed away and remained unmarried until 1978 when she married Cecil E. Powell. Together they continued to run Powell Construction in Burien until he retired. After Cecil's retirement she continued to maintain the office and his business. Cecil and Maxine enjoyed wintering in Palm Springs, California, but never left home in Seattle for too long. After Cecil's death in 1992 she continued to take care of their business and in 2000 moved out of her long-time home in Normandy Park to join son-in-law Dick Fain and her daughter Geraldine in their home.
Maxine remained very active her entire life and always put family above all else. She loved her children Fred and Geraldine, her five grandchildren and her four great-grandchildren unconditionally. She also loved her Seahawks and was a charter season ticket holder and avid fan. She rarely missed a home game, even last season at the age of 91, and was looking forward to this coming season.
Maxine passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2007, at Highline Medical Center. She was preceded in death by two loving husbands, Fred and Cecil, and her sister Geraldine Glascock of Hoquiam. She is survived by her brother Karl A. Riebe of Hoquiam, her sister Carmen Randall of Seattle, her son Frederick Joseph Le Penske III (Sandra), her daughter Geraldine L. Fain (Richard), her grandchildren Dena Priser (Le Penske), Scott Le Penske, Susan Weiss (Le Penske), Richard Fain Jr. and Joseph Fain, and her four great grandchildren MacKenzie Graham, Gabrielle Le Penske, Delainey Priser and Jackson Le Penske.
Because of their mother's years of support and her wishes, the family requests in lieu of flowers that contributions be made to the Highline Medical Center Foundation Emergency Room Capital Fund, 12844 Military Road South, Tukwila, WA 98168.
