Myron E. "Max" Abildtrup
Myron “Max” Eugene Abildtrup, 88, of Tucson, Ariz., passed away peacefully on Feb. 28, 2023 at home surrounded by family. Max was born Nov. 19, 1934, to Nels and Lillie (Jensen) Abildtrup at his parent’s home in Audubon. He graduated from Audubon County schools and then joined the Marine Corps in 1953 to 1956. After returning home from the service, he attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, where he met and eventually married Judith “Judy” Spenler on April 9, 1960. This union was blessed with a son, Mark, and a daughter, Julie.
Max was a member of the American Legion in McGregor for over 40 years. He also served on the Mar-Mac School Board from 1971 to 1982. Max ran the Agri Industries Grain Elevator in McGregor until 1983 and moved on to other grain elevators in various parts of the country and even did some consulting work in China in 1994.
In 2001, Max and Judy retired to “The Villages” in Florida, where Max was able to fulfill his passion for golf. His wife, Judy, died in 2006, and in 2008, Max moved back to McGregor to be closer to family. Max connected with an old friend, Linda Kirschbaum, in 2009, and they were married in July 2010. Max and Linda spent their time between McGregor and Tucson, Ariz., enjoying time with family and friends.
Max enjoyed playing golf and watching all sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and even the Nebraska Cornhuskers (to please his grandson Michael). He cheered for both teams as long as they were not playing each other. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and even playing slow pitch softball in the late 1970s.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Nels and Lillie Abildtrup; his wife, Judy (2006); son, Mark (2017); Mark’s significant other, Julie Elliott Geno (2007); two sisters, Connie and Jeanene; and brother-in-law, Pete.
Survivors include his wife Linda of Tucson, Ariz.; daughter Julie (Doug) Aksamit of Nebraska City, Neb.; grandson Michael (Emily) Aksamit of Lincoln, Neb.; granddaughters Dana (Paul) Gordon and Dacia (Kory) Warrington, both of Marquette; stepchildren Kathy (Neil) Harrington of Huddleston, Va., Lori Mott (Jay) of Tomahawk, Wis., John Kirschbaum of Payson, Ariz., and Doug Kirschbaum, Chris Fox, Karen Kirschbaum, Lisa Castellano (Paul) and Jen Healy (Jay), all of Tucson, Ariz.; and several other grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will take place on May 13, at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home in McGregor, followed by a burial with full military honors at the Little Norwegian Church Cemetery in McGregor. Friends and relatives are invited to join us for a get together at Maggie’s Diner after the burial.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, McGregor, is helping the family with the arrangements.
