Ralph J. Maier, 92, Korean War veteran, mechanic, vehicle maintenance teacher

Aug. 24, 1930 – Jan. 6, 2023

Ralph J. Maier, a Korean War veteran and mechanic who taught auto mend for Erie 1 BOCES, died Jan. 6 in Wellsville Manor Treatment Middle, Wellsville, just after a prolonged illness. He was 92.

Born in Lansing, Mich., the 3rd of six children and the next-oldest boy, his father was a Russian immigrant. He attended a technical superior faculty in Michigan and came to Williamsville with his spouse and children in 1947 when his father approved a small business offer you from his uncle, Freddie Maier, who operated Freddie’s Donuts.

Right after his father died two yrs later on, Mr. Maier labored to help his mother and siblings. He started his individual vehicle fix business, Maier’s Garage, in the two-bay garage following to their residence at Key and Reinwalt streets in Williamsville.

He also repaired delivery vans and machinery at Freddie’s Donuts, wherever he fulfilled his spouse, Jane Marie Rentschler. They were married in 1952, shortly prior to he was because of to be despatched by the Military to battle in the Korean War.

However, his son William claimed, a excellent officer determined that his competencies would be superior applied in Japan. He was despatched to Tokyo to begin and regulate a motor pool and uncovered Japanese in the course of his stay. He in some cases also was deployed to the front lines in Korea to mend autos in the field.  

Returning from provider, he expanded his garage, then resolved to grow to be a teacher. He acquired a master’s diploma from what was then Buffalo Condition Faculty, offered his business and joined the faculty at the Erie 1 BOCES Profession and Technical Heart on Potters Road in West Seneca, teaching car mend for about 20 several years. Teams of his pupils frequently competed in automobile repair service contests. He retired in 1985.

A Williamsville resident until 2019, he did dwelling restore and remodeling and savored accumulating antiques. He improved his summer season cabin in Allegany County to make it livable year-spherical.

He was an avid bird and deer hunter and experienced a lifelong adore of pet dogs that bundled beagles, numerous breeds of shepherds and Siberian huskies.

In addition to his spouse, a retired librarian at Medaille Faculty, now Medaille College, survivors include two sons, Thomas, an Amherst Law enforcement captain, and William, an engineer for Siemens Vitality six grandchildren and six excellent-grandchildren. Yet another son, Gary, died in 2012.

There will be no services.