R. Max Daniels Sr.

R. Max Daniels of Las Cruces New Mexico, formerly of Muskegon Michigan and Naples Florida, passed away on August 7, 2024 at the age of 92. His beloved wife Janet remains a resident of Las Cruces.

Max was born in Muskegon, Michigan, the son of Cecil and Mabel Daniels. After graduation from Muskegon Heights High School, he attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and graduated from the School of Business Administration. He met the love of his life, Janet Anne Schuiteman, on a date arranged by mutual friends. They were married the next year and Max entered U-M law school. After two years of study, he enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. Life became even more interesting with the arrival of their first son Robert Max "Bob" Daniels, Jr., that same year. Following the completion of his military service, Max returned to Ann Arbor and graduated from U-M law school.

Max became a law partner in Balgooyen & Daniels, with his fellow Michigan graduate, William "Bill" Balgooyen. When Bill's younger brother Rick joined the firm, they became known as Balgooyen, Daniels & Balgooyen. Max worked in the Prosecutor's Office in Muskegon for several years before rejoining the law firm full time. Max and Jan were delighted to welcome sons Mark and Craig to the family within 15 months of each other.

Michigan's Governor William Milliken appointed him to be a Circuit Court Judge in 1979. He served as a judge for 17 years, until his retirement in 1996. He was re-elected three times and was proud to have spent almost nothing on his re-election campaigns. He was nicknamed "Maximum Max" for his tendency to issue sentences that were fully commensurate with the crimes committed. On one occasion, a defendant "thanked" him for his sentence, to which Max replied, "I couldn't have done it without you."

Despite the responsibilities associated with his work, Max always found a way to prioritize his family. He loved playing football on the front yard, shooting baskets on the driveway or building ice rinks in the backyard for nightly hockey games. Saturday nights were reserved for special dates with his sweetheart. Vacations typically involved driving to Fort Lauderdale in an Olds 98, with every seat fully spoken for. Once there, he would seek out donuts and orange juice to provide fuel for bodysurfing in the ocean.

Max was pleased to welcome three daughters-in-law to the family with the marriages of Bob and Glenda, Mark and Karen and Craig and Betsy. He was a very active and involved grandparent to Ray, Valerie, Lacey, Michael, Allison, Kevin and Brian. He liked to drive them to the toy store or to get milk shakes or cookies. Sometimes these trips took place in their 32-foot motor home, which made for very excited grandchildren. In more recent years, he became a great-grandparent to Maddox and Luna, and enjoyed hearing about their activities and development.

Following his retirement, Max and Jan moved to Fox Fire, a golf community in Naples, Florida to escape the cold winters of Michigan. They honed their golf games to the point that they even had multiple holes-in-one. They made many friends there and enjoyed all the available social activities. Max loved playing the baby grand piano (always by ear or memory, never reading sheet music) in the front hall. He also enjoyed their screened in pool, especially when grandchildren visited. Max could never resist a joke and rarely missed an opportunity to be funny.

During his time in Naples, Max served as the president of the local chapter of the University of Michigan alumni association. He was overjoyed to sing Hail to the Victors as the Maize and Blue won a national championship during his final season.

Max was involved with churches wherever he lived. In Muskegon, he was an Elder and head of the Consistory at Westwood Reformed Church. In Naples, he was an active participant in Moorings Presbyterian Church. He was even known to provide feedback and suggestions to ministers on their sermons, which he said they appreciated. Max's faith, as well as his sense of humor, helped him manage several serious health concerns during his life. Of course, Jan's love and support meant everything to him and enabled him to be Max.

As the baby of his family, he was preceded in death by older brothers, John Daniels, Clifford (Pip) Daniels, Howard (Bud) Daniels, Owen (Oak) Daniels, his older sister Marjorie (Peg) Sternburg and his cousin Kenneth Lutz--a brother in every way that mattered.