Max Shindler passed away peacefully at age 91 on Friday afternoon, August 16, 2024 with his loving wife and stepdaughter by his side.
Born December 4th, 1932 to his father Charles Albert Shindler and mother Julia Belle Ford, Max spent his childhood years in Box Butte County, Nebraska alongside his younger brother Gary Shindler who preceded him in death.
Max spent his early years working in Shindler’s Hardware, his father’s hardware store. After graduating from Hemingford High School, he proudly spent four years in the Army. Following his service, Max attended Doane College, now Doane University, where he obtained a degree in Business. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he started his own very successful food service business in California.
Max went on to marry his first wife, Elda Marie Myrfield, in 1976 and eventually retired to Las Vegas, Nevada with her. In 1999, he unfortunately lost her to Pancreatic Cancer. Despite this profound loss, Max found love again. In 2007, he married his second wife, Margaret “Peggy” Smith with whom he spent the rest of his years. Together, Max and Peggy were known for their exceptional dance skills.
Max’s favorite pastime was dancing the night away with Peggy. He also cherished time with their beloved dogs, Ginger and Nutmeg.
Max had a love for traveling the world which he did with both Elda and later Peggy, creating many happy memories and deepening their bonds.
Through his marriage to Peggy, Max embraced her family as his own. He was a loving stepfather to Tawnya Smith, Jay Smith, and Bryan Zeller, and proud step-grandfather to his three step-granddaughters, Monet Pitre, Chloe Lohmeyer, and Michelle Williams.
Max was a true treasure. He was a man of quiet strength, humility and immense kindness. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, famously saying “Somebody was good to me, and I wanna be good to someone else.” Max’s selfless nature and generosity could be seen through his many philanthropic donations, including support for his granddaughters’ education. Max had a heart of gold, or some may say, diamond.
Max’s gentle demeanor, resilience, warmth, and compassion made him a treasure to all who knew him. He will be deeply missed by his wife Peggy, his stepchildren and stepgrandchildren, and his extended family, including his step-great-grandchildren Addison and Tucker Williams, and his cousins Carol Davis, Shirley Hicks, Lora Young, and Amanda Young.
Max will be cremated at Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas and his ashes will go to his family’s resting site in Hemingford, Nebraska. Max will be celebrated with a memorial service on September 8th at 11am Palm (Cheyenne) Mortuary (7400 W Cheyenne Ave) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Max will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. He will forever be in our hearts.