Eleanor Maier

Eleanor touched the hearts of all who loved her to her last breath. Surrounded by many family members she urged us, “Love the Lord your God with all our heart, soul and strength.” Her greatest gift to all who knew her was her genuine gratitude to God and unwavering trust in Jesus in all circumstances. She was asked if she was afraid to die and she replied, “No, I am only afraid I will not see some of my friends and family in heaven with me. I know where I am going.” This was the essence of her life’s work and her fundamental concern.

As Karissa shared, “Grandma wasn’t just strong in hardship; her entire life was a testament to resilience. She carried herself with grace, met life’s ups and downs with unwavering courage, and loved with her whole heart. Her wisdom, faith, and kindness touched everyone she met, and she had a way of making the world feel brighter.”

Eleanor had a very special connection with her family, neighbors, friends and everyone she met. Hospitality in her beautiful home and yard which she helped develop, was indeed a gift she and Cliff are known and appreciated for. She was there for her family in the good times but especially remembered for her support during suffering and loss of family. A dear friend said, “Your life is not measured by who you love, but by how much we are loved by others.” Eleanor was loved by so many people, and we are awestruck. At 93, she authored her book, Decisions Matter, a gift to generations. It is priceless. You would deeply honor her by reading her full story there, and the circumstances that developed her into the outstanding woman she became. (Available on Amazon)

Eleanor often said, “We are only here for a speck of eternity. Work now for what lasts while you are here on earth.” We can only imagine the eternal rewards she is already receiving from our Lord. With that timeline, we have the certainty of seeing her soon. She is in her spiritual home now and already heaven feels much more like home to us knowing she’s there waiting for us.

Eleanor was born June 9,1928, in Lintlaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, a daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Cropto) Koehl, immigrants from Villach, Austria. She was raised in Lintlaw, became a 1951 graduate of the Two Rivers Bible Institute of Carlea, Saskatchewan (now Nipawin Bible College), attended Northwestern College in Minneapolis, 1955-1957, and graduated from Whitworth University in 1959 with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education.

On August 10, 1955, she married Clifford Ferdinand Maier in Carlea, Saskatchewan. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, their 69 years of marriage are an inspiration to all married couples who know them.

Eleanor was absolutely supportive and loyal over the years of her husband Cliff, on any project he felt called to undertake. When he decided that he should pursue higher education, both with Christian purposes in mind and at times when he did not, she stood by him through thick and thin, finding numerous ways to help him earn a PhD debt free with very little outside help. Some of the ways she did this early on was by developing a childcare business, managing an apartment house, selling clothes and books, becoming a top distributor in Amway, and also becoming active in real estate. She did all of this while diligently caring for her three children, constantly on the lookout for fun and educational activities to make their childhood years special. In addition to this, she typed endless projects and papers, many of them before the computer era, such as a PhD dissertation, lectures, articles, and books over a 40 year period. As she describes in her own book, just the drafts from some of these projects amounted to piles of paper several feet high. During the last 40 years, she has become particularly heavily engaged in church teaching, committee work and outreach evangelism.

Eleanor is survived by her husband, Clifford Maier, 92, of Marquette, Michigan; her children, Fern Carol, (Larry Wasicek), George Virgil, (Beth Maier), and Mark Warren, (Tracey Maier); her grandchildren, Jack Thomas, Emma Louise and Karissa Janelle, with spouse Jared Buck; and great-grandchildren, Melody Buck (mother, Karissa Buck); She is also survived by her sister Frieda Bader’s children– including her nieces, great nieces, nephews and their spouses respectively: Dan and Marilyn Bader, with their children Kerry and Andrea; Judy Sellers; Marilyn and Bob Evans; Fred and Shauna Bader; and Patricia and Brad Bader-Johnston and their children Cohl and Chris, Taylor and Ivanna, Nicolas and Maia. Eleanor’s brother Hansie’s children also survive her, including Laurie Holden and Connie Yasinchchuk and their children as do Clifford’s siblings–Donald, Elizabeth, Freda, David, Fred, Ruth, Edwin– and many dear nieces and nephews too numerous to mention in the space available.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; and all of her siblings, Tom, Anne, Johnnie, Alfred, Otto, Frieda, and Hansie; Judy’s late husband Jim Sellers; and by Cliff’s sister Esther Edwards, and as well as Elizabeth’s husband, Earl McCorriston.

Eleanor’s funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 11 a.m. EST at Bethel Baptist Church in Marquette, Michigan, with Rev. Brock Youngren officiating. Visitation will be held in the church for one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will follow the service in the church hall. Interment will follow in Park Cemetery, Marquette, Michigan, at approximately 2 p.m. The service will be live-streamed for those who wish to attend but cannot in person. The link is https://www.youtube.com/live/AD_Vb9v1S5w?si=D8wW8NvDoo3Ow1a4 and will be archived.

In lieu of flowers, designating Eleanor Maier’s memorial fund, contributions options can be made through her church, Bethel Baptist Church in Marquette, MI, specifying either their Children’s Ministry Building Fund or Community Engagement Fund; or to WHWL Christian Radio; or Salvation Army Marquette County; or Nipawin Bible College, Nipawin Sask.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral Home and Cremation services is assisting the family where memories may be shared at http://fassbenderswansonhansen.com.