MAHER, Ronald Walter 1936-2009

HURD, MAHER, BAUMLER, HUGHES, DOWD

Posted By: N. Wagner (email)
Date: 10/8/2009 at 21:16:33

Ronald Walter Maher, 73, of New Hampton, Iowa, died Thursday, October 1, at his home after a long courageous battle with cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 Monday Oct. 5, at Holy Family Parish - St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Monsignor Carl Schmitt celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his grandsons. Serving as lector will be Carmelita Rosenbaum. Chris Carrier will be the organist accompanying Mike Carlin as cantor and the Holy Family Resurrection Choir. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Ron's granddaughters.

Internment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery - Reilly Ridge, rural Lawler with Bill Hurd, Bill Meirick, Larry Jirak, Dean Fisher, Chuck Vikdal, and Dennis Steinlage serving as pallbearers. Military honors will be conducted by Harold Redman American Legion Post 279, Lawler.

Friends called 2 - 7 p.m. Sunday at the Hugeback and Chenoweth Funeral Home, New Hampton, where there was a 6 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues one hour prior to the Mass at church on Monday.

Ronald was born June 7, 1936, on the family farm North of Lawler, the son of Leo P. and Hanora M. (Hurd) Maher. He attended rural country school near Saude and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1954. On Oct. 7, 1954, he was inducted into the United States Army and was honorably discharged on July 6, 1956.

On April 12, 1958 he was united in marriage to Verlene Baumler at Our Lady of Mount Caramel Catholic Church in Lawler. To this union, five children were born. The couple farmed north of Lawler for 27 years and Ronald also worked at John Deere in Waterloo during this time. They lived for 12 years in Dewitt, where Ronald worked for Archer Petroleum. The couple moved back to New Hampton in 1999 and Ron began working at L & S Builders until his retirement in 2007.

Ron was a member of the New Hampton Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, The Harold Redman American Legion Post 279 in Lawler, and the R.C. Flying Club. In his free time Ronald enjoyed hunting with his sons and grandsons and spending time with his family.

Ronald is survived by his wife of 51 years, Verlene; three sons, Randy (PattyAnn) Maher of Elizabeth, Colo., Ron J. (Linda) Maher of Lawler, and Rick (Teri) Maher of Elizabeth, Colo.; two daughters, Robin Maher of Denver, Colo. and Shelly (Brian) Hughes of Chisago City, Minn; eight grandchildren, Matt and Jared Maher, Jaycob, Jessalyn, Jakayla and Joessalee Maher, Ben and Asher Hughes; a brother, Richard (Shirley) Maher of Blue Earth, Minn; a brother-in-law, William “Tiny” Dowd of Lawler.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Sara Jo Dowd.

New Hampton Tribune - 5 October 2009