Dec. 15, 1926 - Jan. 9, 2013

ELKHART — Nelson Maier, 86, was taken home to be with the Lord Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born in Massillon, Ohio, Dec. 15, 1926, to Nelson F. and Mary (Boyer) Maier.

He married Arvilla (McAllister) Maier in Jasonville June 1954.

Nelson graduated from Washington High School in Massillon and was a four-year member of the Massillon Tiger Swing Band. He attended Muskingum Valley Presbyterian College in Ohio and Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He was also a member of the American Legion.

Nelson was a member of First Baptist Church in Elkhart since 1964 and a member of Christian Lights Sunday school class. Nelson wrote letters to many of the missionaries and supported them through the years.

Nelson retired from American Stores.

Nelson helped found the first Parkinson’s support group in the Elkhart area during the 1980s. Nelson was vice president of the Elkhart Christian Academy Booster Club, where he was involved in taking tickets for basketball games and taking times for soccer.

Nelson is survived by his wife, Arvilla (McAllister) Maier of Elkhart; one son, Bryan Maier of Lansdale, Pa.; and one daughter, Juanita (Jack) Barben of Bristol. He is also survived by three grandsons, Nathaniel, Joshua and Andrew Maier of Lansdale; one granddaughter, Ariana Barben of Bristol; nieces Cindy (Glenn) Bonam and Mary (Tom) Aycock, both of Massillon; and a nephew, Robert Burgess of Canton, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Carol (Maier) Burgess of Massillon; and a daughter-in-law, Michelle (Burg) Maier of Lansdale.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at First Baptist Church, with two hours of calling prior to the service. His son, Bryan Maier, and the Rev. John Blodgett will be officiating.

Burial will take place in Prairie Street Cemetery.

Special thanks to Dr. Vidic from the Elkhart Clinic and Dr. Hope Jordan of the V.A. clinic in South Bend. Memorial contributions may be made to Elkhart Christian Academy.

"