Architect William W. Maxey turned his war remembrances into a book, “Come with Me to a War,” after his retirement in 1984 from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was staff architect and project manager for eight years. “He just met great people during World War II,” said his wife, Caroline, recalling her husband’s dedication to the book, published in 1998. Mr. Maxey, 84, a longtime resident of Libertyville who moved to Lake Forest about five years ago, died of cancer Saturday, March 6, in Balmoral Care Center, Lake Forest, his wife said. Before receiving a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1949, Mr. Maxey served in five major campaigns of World War II as a second lieutenant in the field artillery unit of the Illinois National Guard. He received the Bronze Star for action in combat. During his career, Mr. Maxey designed several buildings in the Libertyville area, including his own home, his wife said. In 1970, he received a master’s degree in management from Northern Illinois University. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, Libertyville Masonic Lodge 492, Libertyville VFW Post 8741 and the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Maxey was also a trustee of the Libertyville Fire Protection District and its board president when he retired in 1991. In addition to his wife, Mr. Maxey is survived by three daughters, Caroline Plachter, Barbara Moberg and Marian McNair, and five grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Ave., Libertyville. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville, Maple and Douglas Avenues.
