Maier

The Rev. Patrick Maier, 78, of Mount Chestnut died Tuesday in his home.

He was born May 5, 1933, in Minneapolis, Minn., to the late Rev. and Mrs. Carl Maier.

Pat graduated from Donora High School in 1951, from Thiel College in 1955 and from Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1958.

Pastor Maier is survived by his wife, Elma (Bennett) Maier, who he married May 26, 1956; two sons, Patrick C. (Jill) Maier of Wellsboro, Tioga County, and Jeffrey S. (Charlotte) Maier of Colorado Springs, Colo.; two granddaughters, Kylie and Shea Maier of Wellsboro; two sisters, Anna (Frank) Nataros of Tucson, Ariz., and Caroline (Joel) Parson of Harrisburg; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ernest L. Maier.

Pastor Maier served these Lutheran parishes: Potter County Parish — Coudersport, Galeton and Germania; Trinity in Freeport; St Paul's in Corry, Erie County; First in Warren, Pa., as assistant; development director of Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect; and Trinity in Butler.

He served four terms on the executive board of the Lutheran Church of America, Western Pennsylvania-West Virginia Synod; three terms on the board of directors of Gettysburg Seminary; attended several Lutheran Church in America National Conventions; and served several terms on the board of directors of Lutherlyn. He also served the communities in which he lived in many and various ways.

After retirement, he was an interpretive guide in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon for the Mountain Trail Horse Center.

Pat loved God's creation with an infectious passion. He was deeply loved by his family and friends.

<B>MAIER</B> — A public memorial service and reception for the Rev. Patrick Maier, who died Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2011, will be held Friday. The memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Friday at the First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St., Butler. The Rev. James Dollhopf, Bishop Kurt Kusserow, and the Rev. Randal Gullickson will preside. The reception will be at 6 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive, Butler.Memorial contributions may be made to Lutherlyn, P.O. Box 355, Prospect, PA 16052.Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the <B>Edward L. Raisley Funeral Home</B>, Prospect. For more information or to leave an online tribute, go to www.raisleyfuneralhome.com.