Warren Richard Maurer, 84, of Urbana, IL, formerly of Lawrence, KS, died at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at Presence Covenant Medical Center. He is the son of the late Edna S. Schmeltz Maurer and William R. "Philby" Maurer; a grandson of Daniel E. and Rachel L. Herb Schmeltz; a great-grandson of John and Hannah Schwalm Schmeltz; and through them a direct descendant of Johannes Schwalm and Andreas Schmeltz, both Hessian soldiers. He was born near Sacramento, PA in the farmhouse of his maternal grandparents on May 13, 1929.
He graduated from Hegins Township High School in 1947. While attending high school he worked for Kimmel's Dairy in Valley View PA. He later worked for Armstrong Cork Company in Lancaster PA supporting himself while earning a B.A. in German (Phi Beta Kappa) at Franklin and Marshall College class of 1951. Following college he continued studying German literature at the University of Chicago (M.A.); the University of California, Berkeley (Ph.D.), and the University of Munich in Germany.
While studying in Munich on an exchange fellowship, he met his future wife Jadwiga Graubard, a Holocaust survivor. After returning to Germany with a U.S. Army Military Intelligence detachment, Warren married Jadwiga on July 7, 1956, in Fulda, Germany. She preceded him in death on October 16, 2012.
His teaching career took him to the University of California, Berkeley; Indiana University in Bloomington; and the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He retired from the University of Kansas after more than 30 years of service. He is the author of three books and numerous articles on German literature, folklore and onomastics.
His article "Bootlegging", a story about his father, appeared in THE HESSIANS: Journal of the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association published in 2005.
Warren took up tennis in his 40's and became a dedicated player.
His brother Leonard E Maurer passed away on August 15, 2013.
Surviving are his son Stephen M. Maurer of Berkeley, CA; daughter Elizabeth T. Powers and husband Nicholas and two grandchildren, William M. Powers and Katherine L. Powers, all of Urbana, IL.; a sister Sandra L. (Maurer) Pool and husband Larrie of Lancaster, PA. He is also survived by a niece, Cynthia L. (Maurer) Hall of Ronks, PA and a nephew, William D. Maurer of Marietta, PA.
Graveside services will be held at 11a.m. on Wednesday August 20, 2014 at Friedens Cemetery, Hegins, with Rev Warren Egebo officiating.
Buffington-Reed Funeral Home, Valley View, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, P O Box 127, Scotland PA 17254-0127.
Condolences can be left for the family at www.buffingtonreed.com