Clarence Joseph (“Joe”) Maurer
Hastings, Michigan

Clarence Joseph (“Joe”) Maurer, age 93, of Nashville, Michigan, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026, at The Meridian of Laguna Hills, in Laguna Hills, CA. He had been on hospice care since September 11, 2025. Joe was born on December 19, 1932, the son of Lawrence and Gertrude (Lennon) Maurer.

After graduation from Nashville High School, he attended Western Michigan University for two years. He played football on the junior varsity team as a freshman and lettered on the varsity team football team as a sophomore.

He then entered the Army for two years and was sent to Germany for his tour of duty. He played one year on the Army service football team with players from the colleges and universities throughout the United States.

After his tour of service duty, he returned to Western Michigan University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957. He attended Eastern Michigan University and received a Master of Arts degree in 1970. He continued taking college classes and received his M.A. +30 hours.

He taught Physical Education for a few years in Pinconning High School in Pinconning, Michigan, and also coached while there.

He then taught junior high science for 37 years in the Detroit Public School System. While teaching in Detroit, he became interested in the Science and Engineering Fair of Metropolitan Detroit. He helped students from the 7th to 12thgrades with their science projects. He became a chief judge at the fair for 10 years and then Director of Judging at Cobo Hall for ten years. He enjoyed working with very bright and industrious students and also attending the International Science and Engineering Fairs. Joe and his students won many awards. One such student, Rosa Coss, National Youth of the Year Finalist, earned a meeting with George Bush. Some students remained in contact with Joe over all these years. He was very proud of them.

Joe retired after 37 years. He loved to travel and had a long list of places he’d visited. He also belonged to local groups in Laguna Woods who traveled to various casinos for bingo and their buffet lunches later in life.

Joe is survived by his sister, Ruth O’Mara (age 99), who is the last of the 12 siblings, his son, Kim Bradley Maurer, and his stepdaughter, Lynn Arlene (Terry) Reed, and was preceded in death by his wife, Ethel (Terry) Maurer (39 years), his good friend, Marie Tantzen (14 years), and first wife, Nina (Peterson) Maurer (9 years).

Joe was very grateful for the love and support he received from Jim, Ashley, and the Meridian residents (the “Puzzlers”), Diane (Equiscope treatments and nutrition supplements) and for Jim, Diane, Alex and Ashley Anderson and Jackie and Matt DeBarro for taking him for doctor appointments and including him for all holidays, and Lynn and Jimmy Reed for wakeup calls, scheduling medical appointments, sending whatever he needed, Sharon Oram and family, Scott Reed family, Allen Reed family, and all mentioned for genuinely loving and caring for him and for the Meridian staff and Silverado Hospice care given.