Samantha Kristine Maier

Maier, Samantha Kristine Age 15, of Portage and Marshfield, was called home to her Heavenly Father unexpectedly on Saturday, May 5, 2007 as a result of an automobile accident. Funeral services for Samantha, her brother, Brian, and her mother, Karri, will be held at 3:30 PM on Friday, May 11, 2007 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portage, with the Reverend Alan Boeck and the Reverend Jeffrey Teeple co-officiating. Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 1:30 PM until the time of the service. The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family with arrangements. Samantha was born on January 8, 1992 in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin to Lawrence Frank and Karri Ann (Kaiser) Maier. She was baptized into the faith as an infant and knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Samantha started her life with an orthopedic hip problem that shaped and strengthened her as a person. However, the body cast and the surgeries over her young life did not hold her back. She loved physical activity including membership on the wrestling team and farm work that would shame an adult. Her time in a body cast lead to very strong hands and arms, and she was known to break off a key in a lock now and then. Samantha ran her own race in life and was a blessing to those around her. She spent many days cooking and baking with her Great Grandma Johnson. Her cooking skills made her a food critic for her mother causing many laughs and some special memories for everyone. She loved her Gideon Bible collection and was one of few people who would truly welcome the Gideon weekends at church. She loved music by Good Charlotte and Fall Out Boy, green olives, pickles, uncooked spaghetti, steak and lobster. Her insight into why other children can be mean to another person with a disability was profound. Samantha loved her family and friends dearly. Animals and every living thing regardless of size and shape were also her friends, even her cat, who kept eating her clothing. Samantha is survived by her father, Larry Maier, Portage; her sister, Stephanie Maier, Portage; her maternal grandmother, Jane Kaiser, Pardeeville; her paternal grandfather, Gerry Maier, Delafield; her maternal great - grandmother, Signe Johnson, Portage; her aunt, Kim (Brett) Ingram, Evansville; her uncle, Jeff (Amy) Maier, Delafield; her aunt, Dr. Sue Maier (Todd Wiggins), Shelbyville, Kentucky; her great-aunt, Janet Van Epps, Portage; her great-aunt, Karen Kaiser, Portage; her great-uncle, Donald (Barb) Kaiser, Portage; other near relatives and many close friends. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Robert Kaiser, her paternal grandmother, Judy Maier, her paternal step-grandmother, Sally Maier, her maternal great-grandfather, Orton Johnson, and her paternal great-grandparents, Phil and Ellen Kaiser. Samantha left this life in an automobile accident that also took the life of her mother, Karri Ann Maier, age 38, and her brother, Brian Patrick Maier, age 12. The family wishes to thank the EMS service, UW Madison Hospital Emergency Services and Med Flight for the loving care given to Samantha. Samantha will live on as an organ and tissue donor. Perhaps this will offer something positive to this tragic accident and the family's loss. Children of the heav'nly Father Safely in His bosom gather; Nestling bird nor star in Heaven Such a refuge e'er was given. God His own doth tend and nourish; In His holy courts they flourish; From all evil things He spares them; In His mighty arms He bears them. Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever; Unto them His grace He showeth, And their sorrows all He knoweth. Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne'er forsaketh; His the loving purpose solely To preserve them pure and holy. Lo, their very hairs He numbers, And no daily care encumbers Them that share His ev'ry blessing And his help in woes distressing. Praise the Lord in joyful number; Your Protector never slumbers.