Harlan H. Maurer, 65, of Big Manistique Lake in Curtis, enjoyed a long career in public accounting and was a strong supporter of education and the arts, serving in leadership roles in many professional organizations and helping to form the Curtis Community Arts Council. Mr. Maurer was chosen by the Curtis Chamber of Commerce as the Citizen of the Year in 2005. He died Saturday afternoon, February 11, 2006, at his residence, surrounded by his loving family and under the care of LMAS Hospice.

He was born in Richville August 12, 1940, the son of Arthur and Hedwig Maurer.

He was graduated from Vassar High School in 1958, where he was an avid athlete, excelling in baseball. He joined the U.S. Air Force after graduation from high school and was honorably discharged in 1962.

In 1962, he married Claudia June Loeprich, who survives.

After his discharge from the Air Force, he enrolled in college and in 1965 was graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Business School with a degree in accounting. He accepted an offer to join Ernst and Ernst’s public accounting practice in Saginaw, beginning a 30-year career with the firm. He moved to the Kalamazoo office in 1971, and was admitted to the firm’s partnership in 1975. In 1990, he was promoted to managing partner of the Kalamazoo office of Ernst and Young. He retired from public accounting in 1995, retaining a consulting position with the firm.

Mr. Maurer was active in his church and was a past congregational president of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage, and a member of both Lutheran Church of the Savior in Kalamazoo and Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Newberry. He was a man of exceptional faith, friends said.

He served 20 years as secretary/ treasurer of the Kalamazoo Country Club, as a district chairman for the Southwest Michigan Council of the Boy Scouts of America, chairman of the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Kalamazoo and Van Buren, and board member of both the Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Kalamazoo United Way. From 1982 to 1984, Mr. Maurer served the National Association of Accountants as a member of their national governing board. He was active in and/or a committee member for numerous professional organizations, including AICPA, where he was honored with membership in the Stuart Cameron McLeod Society, the MAA, the Michigan Bankers Association, the Bank Administrators Institute, and the Broadcast Financial Management Association. He was a strong supporter of the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University and their business schools, family members said.

Harlan Maurer was instrumental in the formation of the Curtis Community Arts Council and, in 2005, he was honored by the Curtis Chamber of Commerce as the Citizen of the Year. He was president of the Arts Council at the time of his death.

Mr. Maurer enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, tennis, and gardening. He never stopped studying or learning, family members said, and was particularly dedicated to the environment and sustainable wildlife management. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Unlimited, and the Michigan United Conservation Clubs.

He loved Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and, after retirement, built his dream house on Manistique Lake in Curtis. He later split his time between homes in Curtis and Palm Island, Florida, where he enjoyed an island lifestyle and spent much time walking the beach, surf cast fishing, playing tennis, and boating. He was a founding member of the Sample Lake Road Society.

Mr. Maurer is survived by his wife; four sons and their families, David and Sarah Maurer of Kalamazoo, Chris and Renee Maurer of Lumberton, North Carolina, Spencer and Tonya Maurer of Galesburg, and Mitchell and Heather Maurer of Lake Mohawk, New Jersey; grandchildren Bryce, Christian, Peter, Eliza, Julia, Ben, Grace, Catherine, Madeline, and Gabriel; two brothers and their families, Harold and Ruth Maurer of Frankenmuth, Bernice and Waldo Roedel of Reece; two sisters and their families, Eleanor and Harold Krafft of Frankenmuth and Harvey and Marie Maurer of Reece; a sisterin law Lil Maurer of Palmetto, Florida, and Mrs. Maurer’s sister and brother and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Hilton Maurer.

Visitation will be Friday, February 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry.

Amemorial service will be held Saturday, February 18, at 10 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Newberry with Pastor Tom Evans officiating. A second service will be Tuesday, February 21, at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church at 9420 Portage Road in Portage at 11 a.m. with a reception following at Kalamazoo Country Club.

Inurnment will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Curtis.

Contributions may be directed to the Curtis Community Arts Council, P.O. Box 255, Curtis, MI 49820, or to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 321 West John, Newberry, MI 49868.