Maureen C. Herbst

Maureen Constance Herbst, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025, at the age of 100. Better known as "Grandma" to all who knew her, Maureen was born on May 2, 1925. She was no-nonsense, forthright, and strong. People always knew where they stood with her. She advocated fiercely for herself and for those she loved. Life was not always easy, and she weathered more than her share of hardship and loss, yet she met every challenge with courage, grit, resilience, and wit.
The daughter of Axel Henning and Grace Isobel (Marchal) Henning, Maureen was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but moved with her family to Albert Lea, Minnesota, when she was young. She had five siblings: Marie Virginia Isabelle Wacholtz, Helen Eloise Ryan, Paul Albert ("Bud") Henning, Carol Joan Henning, and her cherished twin sister, Marilyn Cecilia Reit.
Maureen married young and had two children, Stephen Patrick Lindbloom and Reeta Kay Huber, in 1947 and 1951 respectively. After divorcing their father, Maureen moved from Omaha, Nebraska, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1956 to make a new start. She chose Milwaukee because she loved its architecture and always appreciated its beautiful downtown. Not long after she relocated, Marilyn, also a single mother, moved to Milwaukee with her children, and the two sisters shared a home for several years. They raised their children side by side and worked hard to create a loving, stable family environment.
Perhaps it was the shared parenting, or maybe the fact that they were fraternal twins, but Maureen and Marilyn shared a special and enduring bond throughout their lives. They were best friends and, in retirement, they lived a block from each other, provided each other constant support, bickered like the sisters they were, and took delight in wearing matching outfits to make sure people knew they were twins. The two of them and their daughters, Reeta and Pamarie Kunstmann, shared a special tradition of celebrating lunch together every year on their birthday.
Though Maureen was married several times, her most enduring marriage was to George Herbst, Vice President of the Herbst Shoe Manufacturing Company in Milwaukee. George was wheelchair-bound due to polio, and Maureen lovingly cared for him from before their marriage in 1961 until his death in 1968. George adopted Reeta as a teenager, and Maureen and George shared a loving home in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Maureen kept the Herbst name for the rest of her life.
Other than a one-year marriage in the 1990s (that she jokingly preferred to forget in her younger years and literally forgot in her later years), Maureen remained a strong, single woman for the nearly sixty years since George's death. In 1993, she experienced the heartbreaking loss of her son Stephen after his short battle with pancreatic cancer.
The losses and setbacks in her life did not break her. A brilliant and capable woman, Maureen met the limits placed on women of her era with quiet determination. She worked for many years as a bookkeeper at Continental Can Company in Milwaukee. In another time, she would easily have been a CPA and spoke of those aspirations to her children and grandchildren. In addition to her mathematical prowess, Maureen had a beautiful singing voice and was an exceptionally-skilled seamstress. She designed and sewed clothing, including the wedding gown she lovingly made for Reeta. Never afraid to learn something new, she also taught herself to knit and crochet, creating many beautiful blankets that her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always treasure.
Maureen had a soft spot for animals, dogs especially. In her younger years she had a schnauzer with an unforgettable name-Constance Van Shima Elsa Herbst-and in later years she adored Kojak, a Bichon Frisé gifted to her by Reeta. Kojak was a beloved companion who brought her great comfort during her years living on the East side of Milwaukee. Late in life, her spirits were always raised by a visit from Dennis and Reeta's dog, Mattie.
After Marilyn died in 2008, Maureen moved to Slinger, where she could be closer to Reeta. She then moved even closer - to Wellington Place in Hartford, where she lived for nearly ten years. At Wellington Place, the staff and residents truly became her family. Too numerous to name individually, they cared for her with love, patience, and humor-knew how to make her smile, and how to handle her when she was a bit ornery. Even though many residents were grandmothers themselves, Maureen became "Grandma" to everyone there; staff members and their families felt as though she belonged to them, too. Her favorite spot was the couch by the front windows. Her family always knew she was having a good day when they found her sitting there, contentedly, usually with her friends.
Reeta was a constant presence at Wellington Place, taking excellent care of the mother who once worked tirelessly to provide a strong foundation for her. After Reeta's death in 2022, family and friends stepped in to help fill her shoes with regard to Maureen's care. Reeta's husband, Dennis Huber, kept the promise he made to Reeta and became a devoted, frequent visitor at Wellington Place. The kindness and steady presence of Dennis's sister, Jan Lange, and dear friends Roberta Sauer, Wendy Payne, and Julie Hammel, brought Maureen comfort and companionship.
In her final days, Maureen was surrounded by love. Family, friends, staff, and fellow residents stayed by her side so that she was never alone. Her family is eternally grateful to the Wellington Place community for their extraordinary care, kindness, and affection.
Maureen was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and children, Reeta Kay Huber and Stephen Patrick Lindbloom. She is survived by her son-in-law Dennis Huber and daughter-in-law Millie Lindbloom; three grandchildren Shelby (Dan) Leonardi, Bret (Claire) Huber, and Kristin (Steve) Warden; and eleven great-grandchildren: Robert, Amelia, and William Leonardi; Leona and Layton Huber; Madison Siminski; Isabelle, Allison, Makenna, Alayna, and Brianna Warden. She is also survived by her treasured nieces Pamarie (Jack) Kunstmann, Jan (Pat) Zupon, and Grace (Dale) Wilson.
A memorial service will be held at Wellington Place, 615 Hilldale Drive, Hartford, Wisconsin, on November 15 at 11:00 a.m., with a catered luncheon to follow.
"For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith."
- 2 Timothy 4:6-7