Jan. 30, 2026
From the City of Kenosha:
The City of Kenosha honored lifelong resident and World War II veteran Edward W. Maurer on Friday, as Mayor David Bogdala proclaimed Jan. 30 as Edward W. Maurer Day in recognition of Maurer’s 100th birthday and a century of service to country, family and community.
Maurer, born Jan. 30, 1926, in Kenosha, served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945 as a machinist aboard the USS Wadsworth with the Pacific Fleet. Following his military service, he returned home to Kenosha, where he built a life defined by dedication and civic involvement.
“I appreciate you and all you’ve done for this community over many, many years — not only in service to our country, but also in service to our great city,” Bogdala told Maurer during a Friday afternoon recognition.
After returning from the war, Maurer married Rhea J. Schultz on Nov. 24, 1949, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The couple raised seven children and are the grandparents of 20 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Maurer worked more than 30 years at Eaton Dynamatic before retiring. He remained active in the community as a lifetime member and past post commander of VFW Post 1865 and through regular fellowship with fellow veterans at the Festival Heroes Café. He and his wife also spent time as snowbirds in Mesa, Arizona, while maintaining strong ties to Kenosha.
Known for his appreciation of life’s simple routines, Maurer enjoys golfing, breakfast gatherings with friends, daily walks along the Kenosha lakefront and family traditions — including a birthday celebration that always includes the song “Hail, Hail, the Gang’s All Here.”
Reflecting on Kenosha’s changes over the decades, Maurer offered simple advice.
“You have to change. You can’t stay idle,” he said. “Keep moving forward.”
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