Nappanee Apple Festival Names Max Bigler As Grand Marshal
Posted
Staff Report-
NAPPANEE – One year ago Max Bigler was in the midst of home health care following a spell in the hospital and a stretch in the nursing home. Life was bleak and frustrating for a man who had been busy every day up until mid summer 2013, driving the Elder Haus senior center bus and transporting seniors around Nappanee. On Aug. 31, he celebrated one year of rehabilitated health by taking Twizzlers to the girls at the nursing home and commemorated the day with a glass of tomato juice – a salute to the drink he had every day when he was there. According to a press release, Bigler, 87, says, “I may walk like an old man,” but he lives life to the fullest and believes in a good laugh every day for continued fine health. He plays cards three to four days a week at Elder Haus, enjoys some meals at Real Services, still teaches a Sunday School class and enjoys vacations with the family. His Friday card day is with five ladies. “I wanted to find out what women talked about when they get together!” he said. According to the release, most of Nappanee knows Max. After he got out of the army he went to work for Pletcher Motor Co. Then came a 32-1/2-year turn at the Nappanee Post Office. During that period, he split 30 years between McCormick Motors and Stahly-Stillson, now Jim Moore Motors. When he retired from the post office he decided to be a red coat at Elkhart General Hospital. Six months later, Dee Leavitt, then director of the Elder Haus, called and said they needed a van driver for the senior center. Bigler asked, “Do you pay?” The answer was yes. He replied, “I’ll be there.” His mother Thelma was a Metzler and sister to the Metzler Shoe Co. owners. Dad Harry worked at Coppes for 50 years. He had six siblings. “I was kind of ornery – not with the police – but with Mom. I got more spankings than the other six combined,” he reflected. He joined the First Brethren Church when he married his wife, Delores, in 1949. They were married 60 years before she passed away. He has taught Sunday school class nearly 60 years to several different age groups. “I’m slowing down a bit and another friend now teaches two out of the four Sundays,” he said. “I’ve been a busy boy. All three kids have college degrees that I helped them through,” he added. Son Greg has children Andy, Julie and Laura; son Grant has Tod and Aaron – twins – and Kelsey; daughter Gail moved in with dad after his bout with health issues. She has worked at the Goshen Hospital Foundation since 2009. For the first time in his life, Bigler had to get a passport as he recently traveled to Ontario with Gail, Greg and his family. “The younger ones are in charge of it and I’m along for the ride!” he said. A year ago he was parade marshal for the July 4 procession and his two granddaughters, Kelsey and Laura, joined him. This year at the Apple Festival granddaughter Julie will be at his side. Bigler is starting to think about all they want him to do during the festival. As for judging pies, he said, “I have sugar, so may have to forget that.” As for judging some old cars, “Now how do you judge that? I’ll take somebody with me who knows.” But if you know him, according to the release, whatever he is called to do during the festival, it will be with good humor and he will enjoy every minute of it. As for living in Nappanee all his life, Bigler reflects, “When you get where God wants you, why do you move?”
