Max Lee Berends

Max L. Berends, 91, of Columbia, Mo passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in his home surrounded by those closest to him. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, October 10, 2024, near the Hickam Cabin at Rockbridge Memorial State Park. Max requests that the memorial service have a western theme and states, "blue jeans are acceptable attire." In the case of inclement weather alternate arrangements have been made at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel. The burial will occur at Brantford Cemetery, Washington County Kansas at 2:00 PM, October 14, 2024.
Max Lee Berends was born on August 21, 1933, to Clarence and Mabel Berends (Falter) in Wabaunsee County, Ks on a farm southeast of Alta Vista, Ks. On August 21, 1955, he married Margaret Berends (Pearson), the love of his life. She preceded him in death on August 2, 2018. He was also preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Cynthia Joyce Berends.
Max is survived by one brother Jay (Lana)Berends, his daughter Lorrie Berends, his son David Berends and Ruth Gaug Berends. Grandchildren Samantha (Michael)Young, Jared (Jessika)Hickam, Kristin Smith, Forrest (Brandi)Berends, Zachary (Hannah Paul) Berends-Torres, Luke (Elyzabeth)Berends, Daniel Berends, Joshua Berends, and Coltan Berends. He is survived by 11 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and one long term close family friend Alma Cowan.
When Max was 3 years old, at the height of the great depression and the dust bowl, he and his parents moved to Pocatello, Idaho where he attended grade school. During war time, the students were sent out to the potatoes fields to harvest the spuds. In his spare time, Max fished and hunted in the valley north of the Salmon River, read books and cultivated his love of the outdoors with the Boy Scouts. He returned to Kansas with his family and little brother Jay in 1947. He attended Alta Vista High School where he lettered in baseball and football. Max worked a variety of interesting jobs before enrolling at Kansas State University to study engineering. While there he met and fell in love with his future wife, Margaret Pearson. Max and Margaret married on August 21, 1955, in Clyde Kansas at the Methodist Church. Max and Margaret added to their family in Manhattan, Kansas when their two daughters and son were born. In 1969 Max and his family moved to Columbia, Missouri. Max worked for the City of Columbia Public Works department as a Traffic Engineer for 26 ½ years before retiring. In 1986 Max, along with Les McKennon, received recognition by Missouri Governor John Ashcroft, the 'Missouri Award for Energy Innovation' for their traffic signal dimming project. Max also was involved in the design of the controversial 'Downtown Loop'. This project awarded Max a spot on the National evening news.
Max retired from the City of Columbia in 1995. During the retirement years, Max, spent his time being a husband, a father and grandfather. He shared his love of fishing and camping with his family. He traveled around the country campground hosting and reading books from his favorite authors. He also enjoyed gardening and woodworking. Max spent several years volunteering for the Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. There he led tours of Conner's Cave, helped with controlled burns, and whatever else needed to be done. Max's retirement years were wonderfully spent with family and friends. Once he hit the milestone, he was happy to tell everyone that he had been retired more years than he worked for the 'City'.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Woodhaven, 1405 Hathman Pl, Columbia, MO 65201.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Max Lee Berends, please visit our floral store.