Wigųsireįga Maxine Lee Kolner

Wigųsireįga Maxine Lee Kolner, 84, of Merrillan, Wisconsin, passed away on September 14,
2024, at the Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
Maxine was born on May 21, 1940, to Victor Kingswan and Rhoda Hall on the Hall Homestead
in the Komensky township. Maxine grew up in Black River Falls with her 13 siblings and half-
siblings, later graduating from Black River Falls High School. After graduating from high school,
Maxine attended beautician school in Minneapolis. Later Maxine went back to school and
obtained her nursing degree from Rochester Community College.
While living in Rochester, Maxine worked at IBM for several years before returning to Black
River Falls where she worked as an assistant manager at the Black River Falls Casino. Maxine
also worked for the Ho Chunk Nation in Heritage Preservation in the language department.
Maxine loved her culture and heritage and enjoyed sharing the Ho Chunk language.
While living in Black River, Maxine met Elliot Kolner, and the two were married on Valentine’s
Day in 1998.
Maxine was a member of the Andrew Blackhawk American Legion Auxiliary where she served
as the post chaplain for several years. Maxine was also a church officer for the Native American
Church of Jackson County.
Above all else, Maxine loved her family and her many friends. She would spend her free time
going on adventures with her sisters or at family get-togethers. Maxine was always the life of the
party and loved hosting and attending family functions and birthday parties. Maxine was
endlessly generous; she was always ready with a thoughtful gift specifically chosen just for that
person. Her love of family extended beyond her blood relatives, Maxine was also a foster parent
for seven years, opening her home to those in need. When not with family Maxine could be
found fishing, at worship, or waru haha.
Maxine is survived by her loving husband, Elliot Kolner, her children Bill Kingswan, Valerie (Jon)
Peterson, and Mark Kastrioti, her stepchildren Lea Kolner and Elliott M. Kolner, her sister
Valerie “Big Val” Bartlett and brother Loren James Rave, half-sister Carla Kingswan and half-
brother Fred Kingswan. She is further survived by numerous grandchildren and great-
grandchildren, her extended family, and many friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Victor Kingswan and Rhoda Hall, her stepfather
Duncan Rave, her sisters Sharon Harrison and Gloria Rave, her brothers Reuben Rave Sr.,
Maynard Rave Sr, and Brian Michael Rave, an infant sister, and her half-siblings Dr. Charles
Kingswan, Gayle Kingswan and Georgia Kingswan.
A visitation will be held at the District One Community Building on Tuesday, September 17,
2024, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Burial will follow immediately after at the Decorah
Cemetery.