Maxine Louise (Buccanero) Zelinski

MERCER, Wis. — Maxine Louise (Buccanero) Zelinski, of Mercer, passed away on Sept. 30, 2018, at the age of 94.

Maxine was born to Louis and Jessie Buccanero on May 5, 1924, in Iron Belt. She grew up in the mining community of Iron Belt with a sister and two brothers, where her father operated an automobile repair garage.

She married Leo Peter in 1944, lived in the Mercer area and had two children, Laurel and Patrick. Maxine spent her working life in the hospitality industry, culminating in a 20-year-long career as the beverage manager overseeing bar and restaurant operations for Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Resort in Ironwood, Mich.

In 1982, she married Raymond Zelinski, living in Wisconsin and Florida. After retirement, Maxine’s great joy was to travel with Ray, RV camping extensively throughout the U.S.

Throughout her life, Maxine was an avid quilter and knitter, crafting dozens of quilts, hundreds of Christmas stockings and an endless supply of stocking caps and mittens, which will be cherished by her family for generations.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond Zelinski, of Mercer; her children, Laurel (Richard) Garbe, of Mercer, and Patrick (Leslie) Peter, of Mexico, and her grandchildren; Mark Bos, of Lititz, Pa., Victoria Brunell, of Becker, Minn., Jennifer Banker, of Joplin, Mo., and Patrick Peter, of Mexico, as well as many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Jessie Buccanero, and brothers Lloyd Buccanero and David Buccanero, and a sister, Margarie Swanson Morello.

Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Raymond Zelinski, 5330 Lakeview Drive, Apt. 4, Mercer, WI, 54547.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Simply Cremation through Hildebrand Funeral Home & Cremation Specialists, 24 E. Davenport Street, Rhinelander, WI, 54501, phone: 715-365-4343.