Edward H. Mauerman

Edward H. Mauerman, 74, of Benton Harbor died after a long battle with leukemia on August 16, 2009. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 21, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Thomas Batsky officiating. Friends may call from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Lory’s Place, Salvation Army or Heifer International. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ed was born on Jan. 7, 1935 in Chicago, IL to Robert C. and Charlotte H. Mauerman. He attended Wheaton Community High School in Wheaton, IL. and also Northwestern University on a football scholarship. Ed was drafted during the Korean War, and assigned to the 7th Army as part of WW II occupation forces in Germany. Ed was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Medal, German Occupation Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Upon his return from the service, he attended Michigan State University. Ed had a very successful career in the insurance industry, starting in the early 1950’s with his father in the family owned Mauerman Insurance Agency and retiring from Langan, Haeger Vincent & Born, Inc. as President & COO in 1994. Ed believed in giving back to the communities in which he lived and worked, sitting on several none-for-profit boards in both Wheaton, IL and St. Joseph, MI. He served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of the Retail Division of The Greater Wheaton Chamber of Commerce where he was honored by receiving The Ronald A. Brinkman Person of the Year Award. He was a Rotarian, Charter Member, Board member and past President of the A.M Rotary Club of Wheaton, IL, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He also was a member and served on the Board as Treasurer of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary. Ed enjoyed the game of football, both as a player and coach, and cherished the experiences, discipline and leadership it provided boys and young men. Ed was one founding fathers associated with the Bill George Youth Football program and served as Vice-President and a head coach of the Wolverines in Wheaton Illinois for seven years. Ed’s favorite pass time was to travel with his wife Erika, having visited a majority of the 50 States in their motor home, plus traveling extensively throughout Europe. Ed commented that out of all the places he had been, his trip around the state of MI during the month of September was one of his most memorable. Ed is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph where he also served on the board of the Memorial Trust Fund. Ed is survived by his beloved wife Erika of 47 years and two sons, Robert [Chris] of Crystal Lake, IL and James [Tracie] Mauerman of Wheaton, IL, five grandchildren, Johnathan, Devin, Jordan, Lauren, Tori, his cousin David [Priscilla] Mauerman, and his faithful dog Max. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Robert C. Mauerman and Charlotte H. Mauerman of Wheaton, IL.