Maxine Sanberg Memorial Fund

Monarch Mania is funded by the Maxine Sanberg Memorial Fund, which was created by a gift to the Lime Creek Nature Center from the late M. Maxine Sanberg.

Maxine Sanberg was a Lime Creek Nature Center icon. Regardless of weather conditions she rarely missed her daily walks at the Lime Creek Nature Center, followed by a stop in the office to say hello to the Lime Creek staff. She was always accompanied by one or more of her faithful canine companions, most recently a collie named Cisco.

Maxine had an uncanny knack for finding unusual and unique scenes in nature, and then capturing them on her camera, which was always in tow.  She took hundreds of photos of unique scenery and Lime Creek programs and events, entering many in photo contests and sharing them with us for programs and displays.  She was also a dedicated and loyal supporter of the Lime Creek Nature Center.  Maxine served on the board of directors for many years, put in countless hours volunteering at special events, and attended nearly all of Lime Creek’s public programs.

When it came to selling tickets for nature center fundraisers, Maxine had no equal.  Without fail she was far and away the top seller of tickets to the nature center’s chicken barbecue, held annually until 2001.

In 1998 Maxine’s generous financial gift funded the Sanberg Family Educational Wing, an addition to the nature center that increased office space and provided a large storage/work room, two items which were greatly needed to support the growth of the nature center and conservation board.

When Maxine passed away in December of 2013, the Lime Creek Nature Center lost an irreplaceable supporter and dear friend.  But her legacy lives on in her many long-lasting contributions to the center, her memorial fund, and the Monarch Mania! project.