William (Bill) Maerz, 97, of Fox Care Nursing Home, Oneonta, New York, passed away Sunday June 23, 2019 at A. O. Fox Hospital of complications from a stroke which he suffered on Father’s day, a week prior to his passing. William and his twin sister Anna were born October 29, 1921 in Manhattan, NY. Bill grew up in East Meadow, NY and loved to share these stories with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was married to Anna Kovalczuk, who predeceased him in 2005. Anna and Bill began their life together as husband and wife on December 7, 1941 in East Meadow, NY and were married for 63 years. Bill lived with his wife on Long Island for ten years where they were blessed with two children, Linda and James who survive him.
In 1951 Bill moved with his family to upstate New York to try his hand at dairy farming and they settled in Otego on the Otsdawa. Bill worked on his farm until 1965 when he sold it and began his career as a construction worker. During this time he and his family remained on the Otsdawa and he helped to build a new house for his daughter Linda and her family, one for him and his wife Anna, and later one for their son James and his family (all of them right next door to each other). As a construction worker Bill has left his fingerprints on many structurers in this area such as Interstate 88, Morrisville College and SUNY Oneonta. During his years as a construction worker and after his retirement, one of his greatest loves was being in the large garden that he planted every year. He also was the main care-taker of the small family farm where he raised cattle, hogs, chickens, rabbits, and ducks over his many years living on the Otsdawa. He was a home body and was very content living a simple life close to his family (with both his children and their children, living on either side of him).
To all who knew him, Bill will be remembered for many things but especially for his matter of fact ways and dry sense of humor (even up until his last days). He was a great teacher to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he and Anna spent many a year babysitting for them as they grew up. He loved to be with family and didn’t see much sense to travel anywhere else, except to visit with family either in upstate New York or on Long Island (NY). He allowed Anna to do the traveling which she loved so much, and he stayed at home and tended to the garden and the farm.
Bill was the son of the late Louis and Ernestine (Jacoby) Maerz and was one of 13 children (Catherine, Florence, Mary, Robert, Lizzie, Anna, Bill, Jimmy, Joey, Ernestine, Georgie, Frances, and John). Bill was predeceased by his wife Anna, and all of his siblings, with his twin sister Anna (Maerz) Rellis having just passed away two months ago on Good Friday. Bill was also predeceased by his sons-in-law Earl Bruce Crawford Jr. and William (Bill) Schraft, and his great-grandson Matthew Love.
Bill is survived by many family members who will carry on his legacy and miss him terribly, but consider themselves blessed by his presence in their lives for these many years. Bill is survived by his daughter Linda Schraft of Otego; his son and daughter-in-law James and Gloria Maerz of Sebastian, FL; 8 grandchildren and their spouses: Sharon (Crawford) and Richard Easley of Ashburn VA; Debbie (Crawford) and Tino Garufi of Oneonta; Susan (Maerz) Blanton of North Carolina; Ellen Crawford Kasian of Otego; Dianna (Maerz) and Tim Bolton of Houston, TX; Stephen Maerz and Amanda also of Texas; Amy Packard of Otego; and Angela Hannon of Baker, FL. Bill is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren: Tino and Joshua Garufi of Oneonta; Amanda (Love) Rainford, and Lauren Blanton of NC; Jordan Kasian of Otego; Savannah Kincaid of New Jersey and Eddie Kincaid of California; Parker and Kolby Packard of Otego; and Brandi and Kira Holly of Baker, FL; Mason and Matthew Maerz of Texas, several nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 27, 2019 at St. Mary’s Church, 39 Walnut St, Oneonta, with the Rev. Dan Quinn, officiating. Hospitality will follow the service in the St. Mary’s Parish Center.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26 at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta, at which time the family will be in attendance.
Bill will be interred next to his wife Anna in Otego Evergreen Cemetery in Otego, NY.
Online condolences to the family can be made at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
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