Australian church planter Maxine Klingenberg dies at 77

Maxine and Don Klingenberg (Photo via Facebook)

Maxine Klingenberg, who moved to Australia with her husband, Don, in 1972 to plant and serve churches, died June 6 in Gosford, Australia, after a long battle with cancer. She was 77.
“Maxine has been a great blessing to so many people in Australia, the U.S. and beyond,” church members wrote in the bulletin of the Warringah Church of Christ in Australia. “She is sadly missed, but is now at home with her Lord.”
Klingenberg’s funeral is June 15 in Australia. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Australian Church of Christ Evangelistic Trust. (See our 2005 story about the launch of the trust.)
“Maxine also suggested the wearing of light-coloured clothing (to the funeral), indicating this is a time of happiness and rejoicing,” according to the Warringah bulletin.
Jay Jarboe, director of church equipping for Missions Resource Network, visited the Klingenbergs earlier this year and wrote a blog post about the experience:

On Sunday afternoon there was a birthday party reception held for Maxine Klingenberg. Maxine and her husband Don have been longtime missionaries in Australia and are loved by so many. I was overwhelmed to see so many who had traveled from so many places and churches around Australia to come and honor the work of God through the Klingenbergs. … I was touched to see Christians coming together from all over Australia. They obviously have a love for one another and a desire to be united for God’s glory.

Read the complete post.

• Feedback
  Don and Maxine were classmates of Patricia and me at Sunset and graduated, Jan. 69. We saw them only once after they made their life in Australia. They were wonderfully dedicated people. We loved them deeply.
  LLOYD AND PATRICIA OVERBY.

  LLOYD OVERBY

  June, 17 2011

  My wife Margaret and I have many fond memories of Maxine when we were members of the Warringah church of Christ in the mid 70s. Maxine’s love for Christ always shone out. Both Don and Maxine have some of the very kindest and most genuine of Christian hearts we have ever had the pleasure of being blessed by. Our prayers are with Don, who will deeply miss Maxine, until they are reunited together in heaven in the arms of their Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Until then, may Don receive love, comfort and strength from God, friends and family.
  David and Margaret Dellit.

  David Dellit

  July, 11 2011

  Don taught me several classes while a student at Macquarie School of Biblical Studies in Sydney – classes like Genuine Discipleship in Jesus Christ, and Victory in Jesus: a study in the Book of Revelation. All Don’d notes were pre-printed in book form, and my understanding is that Maxine did most of the typing!! Maxine and Don were truly fellow-workers in the gospel, but also truly genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  It is late Monday morning, 24 June 2013 here on the east coast of Australia, and I have just been informed that Don passed into the next life on Saturday evening. Both Maxine and Don fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith, and the Lord’s crown of righteousness awaits them on judgment day. They both left an example of love and commitment that inspired me and many others.
  Dinkum downunderwriter David

  David Carr

  June, 23 2013