William Earl Maier, Jr.

William Earl Maier Jr passed into heaven on the morning of Wednesday October 13th, at home with his faithful wife at his side and family all around.

He was born in Grayling, Michigan on May 19, 1954 to William & Johanne (Matson) Maier. Billy is survived by his wife Diane (Bills) Maier, his daughters Elise (Perry) Clouse, Megan (Corey) Engelhart and his 5 grandchildren: Danforth “William” & Melody Engelhart, Sophia, Eureka, & Liberty Clouse; as well as his mother Johanne King and his sisters: Christine King & Linda Maier-Denk.  He was preceded in death by his father William Maier Sr. and his brother James Maier.

Everyone that knew Bill would agree that his sense of adventure compelled him to live life to the absolute full.  He stayed active through much of his life in numerous forms of recreation including; cross country skiing, competing in marathons, hosting hockey tournaments in his backyard, dirt biking, windsurfing, mountain biking, and sailing. He carried the third generation of his grandfather’s family concrete siding business “Perma Log” which began in the 40s. He met his beloved wife, Diane, through her need for hel p drawshaving the poles for her tipi summer home. In early marriage they traveled extensively from the Canadian Rockies to Tonga, he summited North America’s tallest peak Mt McKinley “Denali ,” and as a new family they spent a year on a teaching exchange in New Zealand.  He was a family man, from captaining the family sailboat trip for 9 months to the Bahamas, to spending summers sailing with the family in Lake Huron, and visiting his daughter during her exchanges in Thailand and Peru.

He was a prolific creative force unafraid to challenge the status quo through massive cement sculptures (including Easter Island heads, Stonehenge, flintstone houses, aliens, and a rocketship) to steampunk, welded sculptures, building a violin, along with numerous woodworks.  He was an original thinker, often inspiring people to think outside the box, and brightening up a room with his quick wit. He was a music enthusiast and readily encouraged his daughters Elise and Meg to pursue their creative ideas in art and music. He challenged religious rhetoric and was rooted in the simplicity of the down-to-earth Gospel, often telling people he met, that “Jesus was a cool dude.” Even in his final days battling Alzheimer’s disease, amidst the challenges he would still find ways to laugh and cling to the hope and peace of Jesus Christ.

Visitation: Monday Oct.18th from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the AuSable River Restaurant with snacks provided and drinks available for purchase.

Service held Tuesday Oct. 19th at TriPoint Church of God, 831 W. Miller Road Mio, MI 48647; visitation at 10:00 AM and service at 11:00 AM, with lunch following.

Donations may be given to:

TriPoint Church of God Missions: https://app.clovergive.com/ app/giving/tcog

Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center: https://giving.mclean.org/ mclean-brain-bank/