A firefighter whom you can't forget
Daniel Maier ~ 1940-2007
Whether it was with a joke or informative story, Daniel Maier had a knack for making people remember him.
That is why his family is holding a memorial reception for Maier Saturday afternoon at the Lake Villa VFW Post.
"We're expecting 300 people," said his wife, Peggy. "He taught so many things to so many people. He always made people laugh, and people always walked away remembering Danny."
The lifelong Lake Villa and Lindenhurst resident died Thursday after an 18-month battle with esophageal cancer. He was 66.
Maier, an Army veteran, retired after 31 years as an engineer with OMC Corp. in Waukegan.
While working for OMC, Maier held two U.S. patents, having invented parts for fuel injectors that are still being used today, Peggy Maier said.
Maier recently retired from his second career as a mechanic with the village of Lake Villa.
"He was an impressive person," she said, adding that her husband was able to do what many only attempt: strike a successful balance between his career and family.
"He was very family-orientated, but a hard working man," she said. "Everything was black and white, there was a right way to do things and a wrong way, and he wouldn't hesitate to tell you if it was wrong."
In addition to his wife, Maier is survived by his children, Curtis Maier of Illinois, Craig Maier of Spring Grove, Catherine Maier of Antioch, and Timothy Jones and Christopher Jones, both of Portland, Ore.
The memorial reception will follow a private funeral at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Lake Villa VFW Post 4308, 130 E. Grand Ave.
Besides his day job, Maier was a chief engineer with the Lake Villa Volunteer Fire Department and had 22 years of service with the department.
Peggy Maier called the department his second home.
Fire Chief Frank Slazes said Maier was a typical firefighter, always working behind the scenes to help people out.
Slazes, 50, has known Maier since he was a child and described him as a kind, gentle and hard-working man.
"Everybody looked up to him and he was definitely an asset to the department," Slazes said.
"Obviously, he will certainly be missed. Dan was one of a kind."