Maxine Ann Sherburn

Maxine Ann (Sheldon) Sherburn, 89, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, in Branch, Michigan.

She was born on August 9, 1935, the youngest daughter of Ralph and Edith Sheldon. She had three sisters, Shirley (Sheldon) (Late Harry) Lambert and Katheryn "Kate" (Sheldon) (late Leonard) Brown.

Maxine graduated from Mattawan High School in 1953. In the year 2000, she earned her associate's degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Maxine was united in marriage to Gerald Dee Sherburn in 1955. They spent 30 years together. The couple eventually got divorced but remained friends for the next 36 years until Gerald's passing in 2021. Gerald and Maxine had two children together, Kimm (Sherburn) (late Frank) Sage and Tad Sherburn.

Throughout her life, Maxine was very active and loved to travel and stayed active until recently. She was very involved in and worked at the Presbyterian Church in Paw Paw. She then went on to work at Paw Paw Public Schools in 1970. Maxine also worked for the Community Education Department and was responsible for running their Adult Education Program, scheduling the weekly after school program and running the extensive summer school program, where she utilized multiple school buildings and grounds. She enjoyed going on the field trips to all of the nearby zoos and theme parks. She retired in 1997.

After retirement, she worked for the Sisters of St. Joseph at Nazareth College in Kalamazoo. She loved working for the Sisters of St. Joseph. She also helped a friend for several years with organization and packing/unpacking for trips around the world. She accompanied this friend on many of those trips, all while helping her out. Maxine worked part-time at a different church during this time.

Maxine enjoyed her cabin in Baldwin and made many trips back and forth to Baldwin throughout the years. Maxine also traveled to England, Nova Scotia, Alaska, Canada, Arizona Dude Ranch, almost everywhere in Michigan, Florida, Tennessee, New York, The Rockies and Appalachian Mountains. Maxine had a passion for collecting lighthouses and vowed to visit every lighthouse in Michigan. She visited all but one! The trips she took were no five-star hotel stays! She camped or stayed in cabins on every trip! She loved to hike and was very passionate about it. She also enjoyed water-skiing, boating, swimming, walking and kayaking. She bowled on the Bowling League for a stint. She also had a Bunco and Pinochle club and loved to play some serious Bunco and Pinochle!

Maxine will be deeply missed by her many friends and family. Her love of people and travel will carry on to future generations. She stayed very active until recently.

She is survived by her two children, Kimm (late Frank) Sage and Tad Sherburn, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 33 nieces and nephews and dozens more great nieces and nephews.

Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, her former husband, Gerald Sherburn; sisters, Shirley (Harry) Lambert, Katheryn "Kate" (Leonard) Brown; son-in-law, Frank Sage; grandson-in-law, Jonathan Vore and four nieces, four nephews and nine brothers-in-law.

A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw. Maxine will be laid to rest privately at Maple Grove Cemetery in Mattawan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Kalamazoo Nature Center, 7000 N. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.