John Frederick Maurer, age 100, of Wilmington, Delaware died peacefully at home on October 3, 2023. Born in Rochester, New York to Walter and Clara Maurer. He received an associates degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and his BS, MS and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and remained active in his Navy Reserve unit until the 1960’s having achieved the rank of lieutenant. He moved to Delaware in 1950 and started a long and successful career working in research with the DuPont Co. In his spare time he obtained his pilots license and bought an airplane and then a sailboat.
Over the years he would design and build several boats, including a 32 ft ferro-cement sailboat. He is remembered as someone who could always fix things and was constantly trying to find a better way to get things done. For as long as he was physically capable, each summer he planted a large vegetable garden. Family vacations would almost always involve camping and many weeks or weekends were spent with the family in a tent or pop-up camper. At an early age he had some training on the piano and violin and music remained an important interest in his life. He sang tenor in the church choir for many years at St. Philip’s and then Grace Lutheran churches.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister Betty. He is survived by his wife of 64 yrs, Bonnie J. Maurer, his children, JF Maurer of Chestertown, MD, Mark Maurer of Wilmington, DE, Charlotte (Rocky) Snyder of Newark, DE and Cynthia (Nolan) Read of Dundee, MI, as well as 3 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 pm on Friday, Oct 13, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church, Hockessin, DE. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church.
