Johnnie Maier, Sr.

Johnnie A. Maier, Sr., age 76 of Massillon, died Thursday evening, February 2, 2006 at Massillon Community Hospital. He was born on July 14, 1929 in Massillon and was the son of the late George & Victoria (Marginean) Maier. He was a lifelong area resident. He graduated from Washington High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served in the Occupational Forces in Japan. The son of Romanian immigrants, he was the youngest of six children. He was appointed to the Massillon Police Dept. on April 1, 1955. He chartered Henderson Lodge FOP #105 and was the charter President, a position he held for 11 consecutive years. He served the Massillon Police Dept. as a motorcycle officer and as the school safety patrol officer, before retiring as a lieutenant. With the assistance of the Massillon AAA he organized the annual trip to Washington D.C. for the school patrol kids. He continued the Washington D.C. trip for 10 years. He also worked as a part-time Ranger for the Watershed Conservancy District at Tappan Lake. When his son, Chuck became a Massillon Police Officer, they were the first and only father and son duo to serve on the department. His son, George also followed in his father’s footsteps and currently serves as a Captain with the Ohio Highway Patrol. His son, Johnnie is the Massillon Clerk of Court and a former state legislator. His daughters, Kathi and Veronica are homemakers. His grandson Johnnie H. Maier is with the State Highway Patrol, Marietta office. He was a member of the Massillon Raiders, a group of Massillon Police Officers who fought gambling in the 1950’s. In 1987 he was hired by the Village of Dalton as the first full time Chief of Police. He was honored in 1999 as the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, member of the year. He has been honored by the Massillon Fraternal Order of Police with a life membership and served on the executive board of the lodge as president emeritus. He was most proud of his family, his law enforcement career, and his Romanian heritage. He was a member of St. Barbara Catholic Church. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother George Maier and his sisters Anna Carter and Victoria Swartz. He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Rose M. (Mailat) Maier whom he married on August 13, 1950. His children and their spouses, Johnnie A. Maier, Jr. and Debra of Massillon, Chuck Maier and Ruthanne of Massillon, Kathi Steiner and Mark of Massillon, George Maier and Misty of Wellston, OH and Veronica Maier of Massillon, his grandchildren, George II, Charlie, Johnnie H., Kristen, Michael, Harmony, Johnnie III, Matthew and Natalie, his step grandchild, Melissa, step great grandchild, Hope, his sisters, Lucy Hoffman and Mary Diss both of Massillon, sister in law Mary Maier of Massillon and brother in law Bill Martin of Massillon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 6th at 10:00 A.M. at St. Barbara Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Cebula and Fr. Paul Voida of St. George Romanian Byzantine Catholic Cathedral officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Paquelet Funeral Home, (1100 Wales Road NE, Massillon, OH. 44646) on Sunday from 1-5 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to either, Save the Lions Lincoln Theater, P.O. Box 215, Massillon, OH 44648 or C.O.P.S., Ohio Cops, 9006 Filiz Lane, Powell, Ohio 63065. Paquelet Funeral Home – A Golden Rule Funeral Home 330-833-3222 www.paquelet.com