Earl Leon Maier

Published 11:38 pm Thursday, February 9, 2017

January 28, 1939 – February 6, 2017

Earl was called home to his Heavenly Father after an extended illness. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his family.

Earl was born in Portland, Oregon, to Henry and Meta (Gerdes) Maier. He grew up in Albany, Oregon, graduating from Albany Union High School in 1957. He married the love of his life, Darlene Joy Stromseth, on July 1, 1960. He graduated from Oregon Technological Institute (now known as OIT) with an associate’s degree in electronics.

After receiving his degree, he moved to Folsom, California, where he worked at AeroJet General for a year before returning to Albany, where he was employed by Western Kraft. In 1970, he and his family moved to Bend, where he was employed by KorPine Willamette Industries/Weyerhaeuser as an electrician/supervisor/electrical engineer until his retirement in 2002. Just before retirement, he joined the team to design, construct and start up a state-of-the-art particleboard mill in Bennettsville, South Carolina.

Earl was most at home when he was outdoors. He raised his family camping, waterskiing and fishing. He took his boys deer hunting in the Paulina Unit southeast of Bend, and elk hunting near Ukiah in Northeastern Oregon. The annual hunting trip to Ukiah was a family tradition he looked forward to, one he relinquished only in his final years and with considerable sadness. He also enjoyed hunting trips in New Mexico. The salmon run up the Alsea River drew Darlene and him for a few weeks of dedicated fishing every fall from their riverside cabin, nine miles inland from Waldport.

Not a talkative man himself, Earl was an expert at drawing information out of others, particularly new acquaintances. He would subtly but persistently ask questions, probing for information and breaking down defenses, until the individual began to willingly offer details about himself, his family, his profession and the like. Earl’s curiosity made a newcomer feel welcome and valued.

Earl’s love for his children is reflected in the memories he created for them, the love of the outdoors he passed to them and the faith he instilled in them. As his children bore children, Earl honored each birth by putting the name of each new grandchild on the exterior of his waterskiing boat. When it came to his grandchildren, Earl was always willing to drop anything at a moment’s notice if it meant he could spend time with them.

Earl was a lifelong Lutheran, and his faith was a guiding force in his life. Using his God-given talents, he was the Lead Electrician for two church construction projects – Faith Lutheran Church in La Pine and Trinity Lutheran Church in Bend.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Richard.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene, sons Arnie (Janet) Maier of Anchorage, Alaska; Todd (Lori) Maier of West Richland, Washington; and Scott (Stephanie) Maier of Bend; and his daughter, Jeanne (Mike) Wilson of Bend; and his grandchildren, Matthew (Laura) Porter, Joey Maier, Caleb (Shaylyn) Maier, Kevin Maier, Jacob (Karley) Maier, Josh Maier, Tanner Krewson, Katie (Edward) Shepherd, Stefanie Maier, Cole Krewson, Ryann Wilson and Hunter Maier; and four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Rhys and Liam Porter, and Ellerie Maier.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, February 12, at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2550 NE Butler Market Road, Bend, 97701.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Senior Living Center Building Fund, Trinity Lutheran Church, 2550 NE Butler Market Rd., Bend, OR 97701.