Marvin Maher

Marvin LeRoy Maher, 73, of Litchfield, died peacefully at Emmanuel Nursing Home on March 16, 2010. Visitation will be at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Friday, March 19. The funeral service will be at the Christian Church of Litchfield, 312 North Marshall Avenue, at 1:00 PM on Saturday, March 20. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church. Casket bearers will be Marvin’s military comrades, the Litchfield Honor Guard, who will assist at the interment at Lake Ripley Cemetery after the funeral service. Coffee and cake will be served at the church after the service at the cemetery. Marvin Maher was born in Litchfield on April 16, 1936. He enlisted in the Army in 1954 and was stationed in Germany where he trained as a paratrooper, making over thirty jumps. After leaving the service in 1957, he married his childhood sweetheart, Myrna Peterson, also from Litchfield. They moved to Minneapolis where for several years Marvin worked as a formica layer and cabinetmaker. The two returned to Litchfield where Marvin continued his occupation as a carpenter. He and his wife enjoyed car trips and spending time with friends. Marvin loved to cook and came up with many of his own creative recipes. He developed this skill in the Army where for part of his time he served as head chef of his unit’s mess hall. He kept up on all the news including medicine. He learned about a new procedure that might eliminate the shakiness in his hands. He had the risky surgery done which involved inserting electrodes in his brain. He was among the first 14 people in Minnesota to have the procedure. And it worked. He is survived by his wife, Myrna, two sisters, Ella (Mrs. Ron Drange) and Irma (Mrs. Harold Nygaard), both of Litchfield. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Maher, and two brothers, Merle and Miles.