Gerald (“Jerry”) Edward Maiers, 85, of Washington Island, passed away on March 21, 2026, at his farm. He was an avid reader and a passionate people person.

He was born on December 21, 1940, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Walter Maiers and Claire (Monahan) Maiers. From an early age, Jerry was deeply interested in both science and religion. After entering the seminary following high school, he ultimately changed paths and pursued a broad and interdisciplinary academic journey. He earned a B.S. in Physics from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa; an M.A. in Theology from Marquette University; and both an M.S. in Sociology and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He later completed a Ph.D. in Anthropology at UW–Milwaukee, focusing on the application of fuzzy logic to anthropology.

Jerry began his professional career in law enforcement and public service, serving in 1972 as a regional planning director for the Wisconsin Council for Criminal Justice. In 1974, he worked with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, where he helped develop a management information system. From there, he was drawn increasingly toward technology, working for several banks in the Milwaukee area before spending the majority of his career at Unico, Inc., an automation and control company based in Franksville, Wisconsin.

He met his wife, Mary Ann (Milewski) Maiers, at Marquette University, where she was pursuing a degree in Speech Pathology. They were married on June 12, 1965, and built a life together centered on family and shared intellectual curiosity. They had three children: Charity Lee (Brown) Maiers (60), Martin John Maiers (57), and Susan B. Anthony (Azor) Maiers (55). In addition to his children, Jerry is survived by thirteen  grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jerry’s interests were wide-ranging, spanning politics, African art, and entrepreneurship. He ran for U.S. Congress in 1968 and again in 1996. He founded an internet filtering company, iTech, Inc., and later established a Scandinavian heritage farm, Norse Horse Park, LLC, on Washington Island. He took great joy in sharing stories about the horses and their history with visitors.

In his later years, Jerry lived peacefully on Washington Island, surrounded by friends and community. He was an enthusiastic participant in a competitive trivia team known as “Jerry’s Kids,” reflecting both his love of knowledge and his sense of humor.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jerry’s greatest legacy was his intellectual curiosity and his genuine interest in people. He inspired those around him to think deeply, engage broadly, and remain open to new ideas. His family carries forward not only his academic and professional passions, but also his warmth and love of conversation.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann (Milewski) Maiers, and his sister, Joanne (Maiers) Pfiffner.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1763 Townline Road, Washington Island, Wisconsin, on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Washington Island Fire Department, the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

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