The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
3rd Dentist In Family, Practice In Hamilton
This is the 16th in a series of stories about medical doctors who graduated from our area schools. It is about Dr. Max Rodeffer, a 1981 La Harpe graduate who is a dentist in Hamilton.
Dr. Max Rodeffer
Dr. Max Rodeffer, 38, was born at the La Harpe Davier Hospital on October 9, 1963 to Richard "Jiggs" and the late C. Joann (Hobby) Rodeffer, of La Harpe.
He attended Fountain Green Grade school, Terre Haute Junior High, and La Harpe High School.
He enjoyed many activities during his high school years including athletics, class plays and school clubs. Max always had fun supporting others in athletics as well.
At one girls game in particular, Max and other members of the La Harpe Eagle basketball squad wore the girls cheerleading outfits, with mops for wigs, armed with a typical household plunger and performed cheers during the girls timeouts and quarter breaks.
No, they (he) didn't have quite the good-looking legs the girls had, but the squad didn't lack for stirring up the fans and creating a lot of good school spirit.
His sister Janet, also recalls the time she brought home her husband to meet the family for the first time - and Max decided to surprise them by dressing up as a girl and swinging his beads.
Richard wondered what kind of family he was getting hooked up with.
Max graduated from La Harpe High School in 1981 as Class Salutatorian.
He received his Bachelors of Science in Biology in 1985 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. There he met his love for life, Donna, who was enrolled in the nursing program at SIUE.
In 1984, they were married and in 1989, Max graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Since 1989, he and his wife have resided in Hamilton where he practices General Dentistry.
Wife Donna is a school nurse for the Hamilton School District. They have three children Zachary 12, Katie 10, and Maddie 5.
Max said during the summer of high school he learned the fine art of carpentry, working for his first cousins Bob and Mike Rodeffer. He also worked at Sullivans TV Appliance and Furniture store in La Harpe.
Now, he coaches many children's ball teams scheduling office hours to spend time with his kids. He especially enjoys skiing and golf the best. Their family have taken train trips to Colorado to ski and he talks about how his young kids can ski circles around them.
Max was influenced greatly by the church activities through the La Harpe Christian Church.
Max said, "I have always felt our education at La Harpe prepared us well for advanced degrees. Few small towns claim as many professionals as our alumni.
"Math and science seems to me to be the most important aspect of education and though a small school like La Harpe cannot offer as broad a curriculum as larger schools, the background classes were outstanding."
Max has fond memories of his youth in La Harpe, the support of his community and friends, the summer fun of baseball and golf.
He also appreciated the care and concern so many gave to their family at the difficult time during the loss of his mother last year.
Life is very precious and unpredictable, and Max and his siblings, Janet and Steve, also dentists, have learned to take advantage of every moment with their families and friends, and in the communities they serve.
Max can be reached at his dental office at Hamilton at 217-847-3900.
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Pictured is Dr. Max Rodeffer and wife Donna, a registered nurse, with their three children- Zachary 12, Katie 10, and at center, Maddie age 5. They live rural Hamilton. |