John M. Mauerman

Funeral Service Wednesday July 29, 2015 at 11AM Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 3025 S.E. 73rd Ave., Portland, Oregon 97206 (503) 774-6512. Visitation 10AM - 10:45AM at the church; Reception following services at the church. Graveside Committal Willamette National Cemetery with Full Military Honors at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that remembrances be made to the LDS Humanitarian Services: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/donations/lds-church/humanitarian-services.html John M. Mauerman was born November 21, 1950 in Salt Lake City to Fred and Katherine Mauerman. He was the youngest of six boys, raised in a strong LDS family. He enlisted in the US Army at age 17 and was sent to Vietnam where he proudly served with the American Division as part of the Assassins Recon team of the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry in the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. John was awarded a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star for heroism in ground combat for his bravery. Because of his love of caring for people, after returning home John became a Licensed Practical Nurse, and a Registered Nurse. He found a home working in the mental health care field. In 1992, he met the love of his life, his future wife Nancy. In 2001 they were married in a small ceremony in their home. They were perfectly matched and shared 23 happy years together. He passed away with his wife at his side at 9:15PM JUly 17, 2015 at the Portland VA Hospital after a long battle with leukemia. John left this world on his own terms. John is survived by his loving wife Nancy, 4 brothers (Jerry, Al, Henry and Fred) and 2 step-children who he loved as his own (Paul, and Anna). Things that should have been said while you were alive..... John, you were a totally unassuming man when I met you. The type of guy you walk by 20 or so times in an average weekend here in Portland...You were average height or less, bushy beard, slightly stalky build with a frame that turned out to be much like you, 15 times stronger than it looked. The one thing people might notice is that a grown man was wearing a fanny pack in public. For those of us that knew why it just added to the legend that was your personality. The things that the average person on the street didn't know about you could fill a house. Behind your quiet nature was a silent warrior combined with a gentleness that was unparalleled, a loving and giving nature that re-defined the definition of a "real" man. You giggled like a little kid when you gave people presents, when anyone asked for help you never said no and to my knowledge you never broke a single promise. You could disagree with every aspect of a person's lifestyle but when that person's basement flooded you were the FIRST person over there with a flashlight and hammer...You were an American hero, decorated several times with medals of valor and bravery in combat, but you never once mentioned it unless asked, and even then stories were told with a humbleness that can't be taught. Even after your days as a soldier you fought for the weak, never missing a chance to stand up for someone that couldn't do so for themselves. And when you did everyone around you could see you meant absolute business and the cowardly attackers wanted none of it. But most importantly you loved my mother...and you did so with the same uncompromising attitude and style that you lived the rest of your life. You wore your "nice gun" to the wedding, booby trapped your house for Y2K and covered the cameras on your laptop with clay. You protected your family, loved my mother's children, even me...when I wasn't as accepting of my mother as my sister was. Yesterday you died on your own terms. I would have expected nothing else from you. You told everyone how you wanted it, even if they didn't want to listen. You bought a bracelet that said "do not resuscitate" and if that wasn't enough you also bought a necklace that said the same thing. You refused pain killers until you couldn't talk anymore to tell people to leave you alone...And despite all the pain, after 3 days of not being able to talk you found the strength to wake up from it all and just as clearly as when you were healthy told my mother goodbye, told her she did everything the way you wanted and that you loved her. The world is not the same without you. You could teach this next generation so much about how to be a man. You are the quiet warrior that walked the walk without ever needing to say one word. You gave my mother new life and for that I will always be grateful. Yesterday we lost a REAL hero. RIP John Mauerman Service Information