Max Dinius

Max Dinius (Donald Max Dinius)

Born May 22, 1931, Max was the middle of 3 boys born to Gale and Marie Dinius, in Mishawaka Indiana. Max grew up loving sports especially basketball. As a teenager, Max developed a love of taking Canadian fishing trips with his family. Max's first job as an adult was at the Studebaker manufacturing plant in South Bend Indiana.

One Spring Sunday in 1953, the paster at the First Church of God, told Max that he should introduce himself to a young lady named Joy, which he did. A few months later, on September 17th, Max and Joy were united in marriage. Five days later Max was laid off from Studebaker. Fortunately, his lovely bride told a friend, who suggested that Max apply at Indiana and Michigan Electric. Max went on to work for I&M for 40 years.

In 1963 Max was transferred from South Bend, Indiana to St. Joseph, Michigan. Max and Joy bought "the barn" and started a decade long renovation project that resulted in a uniquely beautiful home.
Max and Joy attended The First Church of God, where they made many great friends including Arden and Thelma. The two couples bought some property near Manistee, Michigan where the two families and many others spent scores of weekends fishing, relaxing, playing cards, and eating smores. The two couples also started a successful small business together. A fireplace / patio furniture store known as The Warming Place.

Max was active in the First Church of God for most of his life. He went on several mission trips, almost always to build or renovate churches or housing. These trips ranged from Canada to Barbados, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. He and Joy also went to Homestead Florida in the wake of Hurricane Andrew to help with the cleanup effort.

Max truly loved family vacations and he made them a priority. Whether it was a Canadian fishing trip, or a trip to Florida to visit his in laws, he always made sure his family was able to get away every year. Later in life he took his extended family to Lake Powell on a couple of weeklong houseboat trips.

After moving to Colorado, Max and Joy attended New Hope Community Church where they met many good friends, including Paul and Sue. Paul was a wood worker who along with Max and a few others formed a group known as the Toy Makers. Over the years they built thousands of wooden toys for kids. They also built wooden games such as cribbage boards for US soldiers deployed overseas. This group was also dubbed "the Saturday Morning Breakfast Club", as they met for breakfast nearly every Saturday for over 20 years.

Max was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Herb, and his firstborn son, Tim. Max is survived by his younger brother Jim, his loving wife of over 68 years, Joy, his youngest son Dennis, and his daughter in law Debby.

Contributions can be made to New Hope Community Church of Aurora, Colorado, or Boys Town NE (EIN: 47-0376606)

Service will be livestreamed the day of the service. ClickHere to view the service.