Ervin Henry Maurer

Ervin was born to Henry and Fanny (Moser) Maurer on December 17, 1929 in Forrest, Illinois. He was the middle child, wedged between two older and two younger sisters. Ervin admitted to being “spoiled” and decided by the 8th grade that school was not for him. Instead, he spent his adolescent years day-dreaming, fishing, vandalizing, and stealing. His first stint at the county jail was at 13 years old, followed by 4 years of probation. He convinced his probation officer to let him join the Merchant Marines at age 16. A few years working in the ship’s engine rooms prepped him for his career as a pipe-fitter and gave Ervin the opportunity to “see the world” and acquire his awesome tattoos.

The Merchant Marines were not exciting enough for Ervin, so he also joined a motorcycle “gang” in his late teens. There were only 9 guys in the gang, but they called themselves “The Dirty Dozen.” (That’s what an 8th grade education will do for you.) At 19, he was arrested for stealing car batteries and jailed for 90 days. While incarcerated, a Christian uncle visited Ervin and explained God’s wonderful plan of salvation. Ervin acknowledged his sin, believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and spent the rest of his life sharing the truth of God’s amazing grace with others. His tattoos raised a few eyebrows in the early churches he attended but became a great source of witness and evangelism to his grandchildren and other inquisitive people.

In 1951, while working in the wheat fields of Oklahoma during harvest, he met and soon after married the love of his life, Dorothy Miller. Ervin finally had someone to help keep him in-line, dictate his every move, and ensure proper grooming habits and overall style. Together, they were like a great comedic duo, entertaining all their many friends and family. No one left the Maurer house without having laughed until their sides hurt. They had their 5 boys while living in Fairbury, Illinois and moved to warm and sunny Phoenix in 1962.

Ervin acquired his GED in 1964 and had a busy career doing plumbing, heating, and pipe-fitting. He always loved motorcycles and cars. If he wasn’t working on a vehicle, he was probably fixing someone’s plumbing problem. Everyone loved Ervin. He had a friendly disposition and a great sense of humor. He had a joke for every occasion or any topic. Whether funny or not, you had to laugh at the way he was laughing. Ervin had a joyful personality, an infectious laugh, and lived a faithful life.

After Dorothy’s passing in 2013, Ervin mellowed gracefully while longing for his heavenly home. He humbly accepted his incapacities and need for assistance. If you visited Ervin anytime during the last 10 years, you undoubtedly heard him say, “I’m ready to go, but God must not want me yet… I must have more rough chunks God needs to knock off.” And his favorite phrase, “I'm blessed far beyond my worthiness.” Ervin was a great example of a life transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. He outlived most of his peers and is now at home with his Lord forever more.

Left to cherish Ervin’s memory are his four living sons: Kim (Ruth) Maurer of Mansfield, OH; Tom (Joy) Maurer of Tempe, AZ; Lem (Marilyn) Maurer of Boyden, IA; and Jim (Laura) Maurer of Phoenix, AZ. In addition, 13 grandchildren and their spouses, and 41 great-grandchildren.

Ervin has two living sisters: Mary Beth Maurer of Fairbury, IL and Eileen Bauer of Cissna Park, IL. Along with his wife and parents, Ervin was preceded in death by: two sisters, Evelyn Maurer and Lorene Roth; his first son, Sammy; a great-grandson, Edwin; and a grandson-in-law, Nate Warmath.