William P. Maurer

West Des Moines/Ankeny

Bill Maurer’s goal was to live to be 113. He didn’t make it. William Page Maurer, 72, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at home of colon cancer. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Ashworth Road Baptist Church, West Des Moines, at 11 a.m. with burial following at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines. Visitation will be held Friday, May 13, 2011, from 5 to 7 p.m. at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines.

Bill was born April 5, 1939, in Odebolt, to Neil and Grace Maurer. He grew up in Laurens, graduating from Laurens High School in 1957. He graduated with a political science degree from The University of Iowa, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and worked for The Daily Iowan, Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Des Moines Register, Des Moines Tribune, Associated Press and the University of Iowa Sports Information Office.

After serving three years as the base information officer at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Marquette, Mich., Bill returned to serve as managing editor of The Laurens Sun, the local newspaper owned by his parents, where he earned state and national awards for writing and editing.

Bill joined The Des Moines Register as a copy editor in 1972, and held numerous editing positions, including city editor of both the Tribune and The Register, managing editor of the Tribune and co-managing editor of The Register.

He also served as director of public relations at Mercy Medical Center and director of marketing and public relations at the Iowa Heart Center. For more than 20 years he has owned and operated his marketing communications firm, Maurer and Others, which services hospitals and medical groups, not-for-profits and other clients. He also edited dsm magazine, and was the editorial mentor for the Iowa Independent.

Bill proudly eschewed social media. Had no friends on Facebook, refused offers to be LinkedIn, didn’t even tweet. But he certainly did love people and valued his social life—especially with a good blend of scotch in hand. Bill loved sports, often watching the Hawks at Kinnick Stadium and the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park.

Bill is grateful to God for his family, the many friends and adventures he’s experienced, and a life well lived.

He is survived by his wife, Patrice; three daughters: Christine (Ted) Irvine, Kelley (Jay) Pennington and Paige (Jeff) Bower, all of Des Moines; step-son Tim (Sophie Hinkley) Schoepf of Chicago; step-daughter Amy Schoepf of Des Moines; grandchildren Mac and Maggie Irvine, Cal and Addie Pennington and Sophia Bower; sister Margaret Semke of Shakopee, Minn.; and niece Lori Semke of St. Louis Park, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents.

His wish is that memorial contributions be made to Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, 2341 Second Ave., Des Moines, IA 50313, to help build a home for a deserving family.