Moritz Thomas Maier

Morrie was born November 7, 1925, at his family's farm near Spalding, Nebraska. The 5th son of a family that would eventually grow to include 6 boys and 2 girls He was named after his paternal grandfather and his oldest brother who died in infancy. He told of riding a horse to a one-room school in those early years. He would say he especially loved the warmer days when he could go barefoot all day, because who wouldn't want to go through life barefoot!

During the depression the family had to leave their farm and moved to Yakima and then on to Selah, where his father supported the family as a farm laborer.

Upon graduating from Marquette high school, he joined the navy as a 17-years old and went on to serve in the Pacific Theater during WWII. For his service he was awarded the distinguished flying cross, the air medal, and three gold stars in lieu of second, third, and fourth air medals for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in combat against the Japanese. Like many of his generation, he was very humble about this as he remembered the other brave souls of his squadron who had died during the war.

After the war, he took advantage of the GI Bill to attend and graduate from the University of Washington in Seattle.

He met his future wife, and co-adventurer in life, Jorene through his younger sister Grace. They married in June of 1951. Morrie and Jorene had 9 children, enough to field a baseball team (8 boys and one girl). They moved frequently because of Morrie's work in the retail trade. Everywhere they went they always strived and succeeded in making a home, including houses on dead-end streets so the children had at least a fighting chance to make it to adulthood.

Morrie thought his physical activity contributed to his longevity. While working he would 'walk the store' multiple times each day and talk with all his employees. For most of his life he also maintained a vegetable garden, including large gardens early in his retirement years. He also enjoyed playing sports, basketball, volleyball, golf, and more, with his children.

Morrie and Jorene were wonderful parents, who loved and instilled many core values in their family. Among the many things Morrie taught us was commitment, integrity, and the value of purpose. Of course, he would never say it this way as he was plain spoken.

Morrie was preceded in death by his beloved wife of almost 63 years, Jorene; and is survived by his nine children (yes, they all made it to adulthood): Tom (Debbi), Bob (Deborah), Dick (Barbie), Steve (Kim), John, Bill (Shelia), Mary (Steve), Joe (Angela), Kevin (Anna); 28 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren; his younger sister Grace, and many nieces and nephews. Throughout his life, visits by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren (even if he couldn't remember all their names) always brought him great joy and comfort.

If you ever talked with him for any time, he would often comment that he'd lived a pretty good life. Yes, you did dad. Yes, you did.

Morrie's family would like to thank VA Home-Based Primary Care (Kelly, Cory & team), Visiting Angels (Kathryn, Ramona & Cathy Lee), The team at Fieldstone Memory Care (too many names to list), MultiCare Memorial Hospice (Ariana and team).

Visitation/Viewing will be Friday, September 11, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the rosary at 6 p.m., at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home in Yakima. Funeral service will be Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Selah. Burial will be Monday, September 14, 2026, at 10 a.m., at Calvary Cemetery, Yakima, where he will be laid to rest next to Jorene.