Ferdinand (Ferd) G. Maier, 85, of Selah, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2017, at the Cottage in the Meadow Hospice Facility surrounded by his family following complications three months after open heart surgery. He was born the second youngest of eight children, on August 18, 1932, in Spalding, NE.
In 1935, he travelled to Yakima with his family and eventually settled in Selah. Ferd attended Selah schools through the 8th grade, then attended Marquette High School in Yakima, graduating in 1950. He was active on the basketball and baseball teams at Marquette. Ferd next attended Seattle University graduating with an Education Degree in English in 1954. He was then drafted and served in the U.S. Army as a Battalion Clerk and temporarily as an MP in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Ferd began his long teaching career in 1956 in Quincy, WA and started at Selah High School in 1959. In 1961, he married Erma E. Feagan and had two sons. Ferd was a beloved member of the community and dedicated father, husband and devoted Catholic throughout his life. He loved spending time and enjoyed many occasions and events with his large family of brothers and sisters, in-laws, 42 nieces and nephews and many close friends.
Ferd was an avid local high school sports fan and especially loyal to the Vikings of Selah High and American Legion baseball Yakima Valley Pepsi-Pak and Peppers. He was involved in nearly every sports program at Selah High School and finally retired from teaching in 1995. Ferd dedicated 31 years of service towards the Selah High School football and basketball programs traveling with the teams as the official statistician from 1979-2010. On January 25, 2013, Ferd was honored by having the Selah High School gymnasium court dedicated in his name. In May 2013, Ferd was again honored as the Selah Community Days Parade Grand Marshal.
Ferd is survived by his sons Bruce (Mae) and Clark, granddaughters Jessica Smith (Tyler) and Raechel Kundert, great grandson Jayden Smith, brother Morrie, sister Grace Hofrichter and dear friend Kathey Whitehead.
Visitation will be held from 2-8 pm, Thursday September 14th at Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home in Yakima with a Vigil service starting at 6 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am, Friday September 15th at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Selah. Concluding Services and Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. To share a memory of Ferd visit, www.lepfuneralhome.com.
The family wishes special thanks to the Cottage in the Meadow Hospice Facility for their outstanding care and comfort provided to Ferd during his short stay there. Ferd's sons recognize the unselfish devotion and assistance of his niece, Sheila Maier, and her family to Ferd and to them, especially during the last few months of his life. Those wishing to make donations in lieu of flowers please contribute to a local hospice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Langevin El Paraiso Funeral Home - Yakima.
September 19, 2017
Gary Green
God bless the Maier family. I and my wife were students of Ferd's. We admired him and liked him personally. He attended every class reunion and will be missed for my 55 year reunion in 2018. Again we express heart felt condolences to the Maier family.
Gary Green class of 1963 and Kristine (Johnson) Green class of 1967.
September 14, 2017
Uncle Ferd was always the calm, in our somewhat loud family. If you see my Dad in Heaven. Just ask why? You both are loved and will be missed.
Deborah Christensen (Maggard)
September 14, 2017
Bob and Pat Garretson
We enjoyed watching YVC basketball games and always had wonderful conversations with Ferd and his friend. It won't be the same without him!
Always looked for him at baseball games- he was always there. He will truly be missed!
Bob and Pat Garretson
September 14, 2017
A great teacher who got the best out of each student. A wonderful personality who made everyone feel comfortable. A devoted friend to my 2 uncles. An avid sports fan. So glad I got to see him in May at my Mom's funeral. He will be missed by many! Tommy McConnell Wenman
September 14, 2017
Roberta M. Sahr
Ferd was a gentle and friendly man who believed in the goodness of all the people he met. It was a pleasure to have known this fine man who lived his religion and left acts of kindness wherever he walked.
September 14, 2017
Hajck Hillstrom
I came back to Selah back in `08 and started to attend Selah sporting events again. Every game I attended, the first person I would seek out would be Ferd. I would find out where he sat so we could chat a bit before the game started. It didn't matter which sport, Ferd was always there, and if he wasn't, I got worried. Something had to be amiss for this wonderful man to miss a game. I would shake his hand, and he would introduce me to those around him, which I found quite often to be many. Three of those that I saw sitting with him on many of those occasions were another Selah High Teacher/Coach, Merle Brothers, Goldendale grad, Tom Wolley, and Selah High alumni, Monte Carlon. These gentlemen knew, like I did, that any Selah High game was enjoyed more in the presence of this fine Selah native. I remember when my Uncle, Bruce Buchanan, passed away, and Ferd attended his service in Yakima and thinking what an honor it was to see him there. It turns out that they were boyhood friends, and he shared with me that friendship as I listened with chills running up and down my spine as he recollected childhood memories of them doing things that Selah boys did back in the 1940's. The topic Ferd and I ALWAYS connected on was horse racing. We both enjoyed the sport in relative anonymity, and could discuss that sport with a shared passion for it. The man was one of my favorite teachers at Selah High back in the early 70's, and I will always think of him with admiration. We sat together at Selah's first State 2A baseball title last year, and any Selah or Pepsi-Pak game that I attend in the future, I will bring with me a canvas folding chair that I will open up behind home-plate and just to the left of the bleachers. It will remain empty for the entire game, and if anyone ever asks if anyone is sitting in it, my answer will simply be "YES."
September 13, 2017
Anna Church
Fred was always in the stands for my high school games at Selah. Later in life, as I worked at another High School in the Valley, Ferd would find me and give me a hug and we would talk sports. He always remembered games I had played in even when I did not. He was an amazing person and supporter of Selah Athletics, he will be missed.
September 13, 2017
Nancy Liersemann
I worked with Ferd for many years at Yakima Meadows. He was truly a special person. He always took the time to make sure everything was ok. He was a kind , caring, generous, honest person. He will be truly missed from this world. We all lost a good friend.
September 13, 2017
Crawford
No one taught Shakspere or mythology better than Mr Maier. He was one of a kind. He made time to attend the funerals of any of his former students. What a blessing he was. Thank goodness I was honored to know him. God picked a good one this time.
September 12, 2017
Ferdy always greeted me with a handshake and a smile. He was always able to remember something about me decades ago that I barely was able to remember! He was always fun to chat with and I always left him feeling good. An Amazing Man.
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