“Grandma Max” got her start cooking for the family’s truck stop food business, which later became the restaurant that carries her name.
(Grandma Max) Maxine Bosselman, 92 of Grand Island died peacefully with her loving family at her side Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Tiffany Square.
Bosselman was an icon in the Bosselman Cos., parent company of Pump & Pantry convenience stores, mainly as the namesake for the restaurants, “Grandma Max’s.”
She got her start in the restaurant business when she, her husband Fred, Fred’s sister, Charlotte, and Charlotte’s husband Al Eaton and Charles Bosselman opened the Bosselman and Eaton Truck Stop on East Highway 30 in 1948. Bosselman, a talented cook, waitressed, cooked, and baked pies in the Bosselman & Eaton Cafe at night, and Fred worked during the day.
When her husband Fred Bosselman built and opened the new truck stop on I-80 in 1965, Maxine Bosselman and family would make sandwiches for all the truckers before the restaurant was there. The foodservice operations eventually evolved into Grandma Max’s Restaurant in 1991.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Reverend Jack Gillam will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at All Faiths Funeral Home.
Bosselman was born July 29, 1921 at Fairmont, NE the daughter of Dwight and Margaret (Ellis) Forbes. She is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Bosselman on July 27, 2006; son, Chuck Bosselman, grandsons, Bryan Graves and Troy Schultz; son-in-law, Gene Graves; her parents; step-father, Frank Salmon; sister, Carol Klone and brother, Donald Forbes.
Survivors include daughter, Barbara Graves of Grand Island; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Scott Sahling of Worms; son and daughter-in-law, Fred A. and Deanna Bosselman of Doniphan and daughter-in-law, Jan Bosselman of Grand Island.
Those also left to cherish her memory are grandchildren, Charlie and Laurie Bosselman, Cindy and Jim Duncan, Brandi and Dustin Lofing, Tracy Gardner, Andy Bosselman, Krisha Bosselman and granddaughter-in-law, Melissa Schultz and step-granddaughter, Emily Tully; great-grandchildren, Carsten and Kinsey Bosselman, Taylor and Samuel Duncan, Grady, Bailey and Mitchell Gardner, Trevor and Mallory Schultz, Katie Lofing and step great-grandchildren, Spencer, Cooper and Parker Lofing.
Maxine was raised and received her education in Fairmont, Neb. On Sept. 7, 1941 she married Fred Bosselman. They had four children, Barbara, Chuck, Mary and Fred, Jr.; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
In Grand Island, Bosselman was blessed to support many organizations. The Bosselman family contributed to the conference and convention center at the Heartland Events Center, and has long been associated with the Bosselman Pump & Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes at the Fonner Park horseracing track.
A memorial fund will be established in memory of “Grandma Max”. Condolences may be sent to www.giallfaiths.com.