Karrie Meyers – Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Recently, Mile High Academy (MHA) and the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church community shared the sad news of Maxine Gerst’s passing. For decades, Gerst and her family have been familiar faces in the Denver community, including at MHA where she taught for 47 years. Gerst’s own children graduated from MHA–Danielle Gerst See (1999) and Jonathan Gerst (2002).

Gerst’s passion for Adventist education and learning shone in her kindergarten classroom. Her classroom was described as lively and exciting. Rarely will you find an MHA alumnus that didn’t have her as a kindergarten teacher and most had parents, aunts and uncles that attended her class too. In addition to her exceptional curriculum standards, she looked for ways to make learning fun and enjoyable. From field trips to Miller Farms and the Botanic Gardens to watching seeds grow and other unique classroom projects, she found ways to share God with her students.

Former MHA student, Austin DeBard, reflected, “You forget a lot of people as you move through life, but she is one of those special people I’ll never forget. I remember her helping me with homework and when I didn’t understand something. She would bring me to her desk, stop what she was doing and sit next to me working to help me understand it. Even as I grew up, still going to MHA, I’d see her all the time, and she was the kindest heart around. I’m very sad to see her go, and [in addition to] all the fun things she used to do for us, how kind of a person she was made a big impact on who I am today. She will be deeply missed.”

Another fond memory for many is the famous Mrs. Gerst corn dogs, which were sold during the school’s annual Fall Festival. In the weeks leading up to the event, she and many volunteers would carefully prepare hundreds of Big Franks and Linketts to be sold as the kindergarten fundraiser. She would mix her secret batter and fry each one on her own. Families could purchase them at the Fall Festival, many buying in bulk to freeze and enjoy later.

“I can honestly say I don’t remember seeing her during the Fall Festival event because she would always be behind the scenes in the kitchen making and frying the corn dogs so they were just right,” said Mindy Philpott, MHA alumna and current faculty. “My girls only ask for Mrs. Gerst’s corn dogs. We can’t call them by any other name.”

Gerst retired from teaching in 2017. A recent tally showed she taught more than 875 students during her time at MHA. And even in retirement, she was still a familiar face on campus helping the teachers with testing, tutoring, and substitute teaching. The COVID pandemic didn’t stop her. Masked and ready to go, she was the first to call and volunteer to cover for a sick teacher.

Former MHA teacher and Gerst colleague, Lisa Venteicher, said, “Such a beautiful person–she radiated Jesus! And oh, how she loved the kids! I loved my time working with her. She was always so cheerful and positive, and I looked up to her as an example of a life of service in teaching. She was so fun too, so young at heart! She is somebody who touched many more lives than she will ever know until we all get to heaven. She will be greatly missed.”

In addition to her dedicated work at MHA, Gerst was very active in the Littleton church community. For years, she taught in the kindergarten Sabbath School classroom and helped with various church events and activities.

On the morning of Friday, January 27, she passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. In the weeks leading up to her passing, the community visited her to say hello, reflect on memories, and listen to her contagious giggle. In true Mrs. Gerst style, she refused medication that would make her groggy as being with her former students, friends, and family was more important to her than her own health.

The memorial service is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Monday, February 13, at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she and her husband, Dan, were married more than 46 years ago. Refreshments–including her famous corn dogs—will be served after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Mile High Academy worthy student fund or Adventist World Radio

The memorial service will be available at www.milehighacademy.org/mrsgerst.

—Karrie Meyers is the marketing and development staff at Mile High Academy. Photos provided.