Maurice Beer Ends Long Career Of Public Service
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MILFORD - If there's one word that can be used to describe retiring Kosciusko County Councilman Maurice Beer, that word is modest.
He was hesitant about having a feature story written about him. He relented, but agreed to it only after his last Kosciusko County Council meeting. After the interview, he said, "Don't make a big deal out of it."
Besides modest, those who know Beer have many other kind words to say about him.
"He is one of the nicest, kindest men I've ever met in my life," said Aaron Rovenstine, Kosciusko County sheriff.
Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said, "Maurice was always a very dedicated public servant, always caring about the people, never jumping to conclusions, and knowing all the facts before he made a decision."
Beer was born four miles west of Milford on June 21, 1922. "I grew up in the Depression time. We had plenty of food, but not many dollars," he said during the interview Monday morning at his Milford home.
His family farmed, raising crops and a small dairy herd. After graduating from Milford High School in 1940, he married his wife Betty Rassi in 1944. Maurice and Betty grew up together, went to high school together, but didn't date. It was only after high school that the couple "clicked."
Betty was born in the house Maurice still lives in. The house has been in Rassi's family for about 125 years. Betty was the youngest of a family of 14. Maurice was the middle child of a family of seven.
In 1949, Betty was struck with polio, spending 151 days in anElkhart hospital. "That's before vaccines," said Maurice.
Betty only was partially paralyzed - her arms and lungs the most affected.
"I was told four times that she wouldn't live, but we had 48 years together after that," said Maurice.
She died about seven years ago.
Beer officially retired from farming in 1980, but still helps his son farm.
He began his life in public service at the age of 32. He said he was approached by the Van Buren trustee about running for the township advisory board. He did run for four terms, and was successful in each race.
After 17 years on the board, the trustee died and Beer filled in for the remaining three years of the term.
"I didn't like book work and I didn't run for trustee again," he said.
Kosciusko County Commissioner Avis Gunter said she's known Beer since he was a trustee in Van Buren Township. She said she never had to worry about his work coming in because it was always done on time.
For about the next 10 years, he stayed out of politics. Then he received a phone call asking him to run for county commissioner. After consulting some well-known Republicans at that time, Beer committed to running. He didn't know he'd have any competition at that time, but on the same day Beer announced his candidacy, Ron Sharp also announced his intentions.
Beer won.
For the next two elections, Beer ran unopposed.
"Then Brad Jackson filed against me and he beat me fair and square," said Beer. "And we're good friends today. I supported him in the general election."
Jackson said he beat Beer only by about 3 percent. "That showed how well liked (Maurice) was," especially since Jackson said he campaigned a lot while Beer campaigned very little. If Beer had campaigned more, Jackson said, "he would have beat me."
After the primary election was over, Jackson said he and Beer did an ad together to help Jackson get elected in the general election. For Beer to do that, Jackson said, "that showed a lot of character."
Four years later, the three county commissioners called Beer on the same day, encouraging him to run for Kosciusko County Council. "I won that one narrowly," said Beer.
He decided not to run for re-election this year, citing his age and health reasons. But during his years of serving the public on the board of commissioners and council, he said, there are three things that he is most proud of having been a part of - the Emergency 911 system, the county numbering system and the county courthouse restoration. The estimate of restoring the courthouse was $3 million, but Beer said they got it done step by step in under $1 million.
"I'm proud of that building today," he said.
He also has many good things to say about the people he's worked with in the county over the years.
"I found them a very nice group to work with. Because of sickness, I had to miss a few meetings, but they covered for me very well. I'm in good health now and I appreciate and thank God for it," he said.
During his term as a councilman, he said, it seemed there was a statewide and countywide shortage of money. However, under the guidance of Mitchell, and the county being so financially conservative, this year the county is ending in "very good shape."
"I think we have a good county," Beer said, "a conservative bunch and they're very good to work with."
In 1997, Beer was named to the Kosciusko County Republican Hall of Fame. He also received the Government Excellence Award from the Greater Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce in 1997 and was a Milford Citizen of the Year in 1985.
He drove a bus for Wawasee Schools from 1979 to 1995.
"He's just given a lot of time to his community," said Jackson of Beer. "A lot of time." [[In-content Ad]]
MILFORD - If there's one word that can be used to describe retiring Kosciusko County Councilman Maurice Beer, that word is modest.
He was hesitant about having a feature story written about him. He relented, but agreed to it only after his last Kosciusko County Council meeting. After the interview, he said, "Don't make a big deal out of it."
Besides modest, those who know Beer have many other kind words to say about him.
"He is one of the nicest, kindest men I've ever met in my life," said Aaron Rovenstine, Kosciusko County sheriff.
Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said, "Maurice was always a very dedicated public servant, always caring about the people, never jumping to conclusions, and knowing all the facts before he made a decision."
Beer was born four miles west of Milford on June 21, 1922. "I grew up in the Depression time. We had plenty of food, but not many dollars," he said during the interview Monday morning at his Milford home.
His family farmed, raising crops and a small dairy herd. After graduating from Milford High School in 1940, he married his wife Betty Rassi in 1944. Maurice and Betty grew up together, went to high school together, but didn't date. It was only after high school that the couple "clicked."
Betty was born in the house Maurice still lives in. The house has been in Rassi's family for about 125 years. Betty was the youngest of a family of 14. Maurice was the middle child of a family of seven.
In 1949, Betty was struck with polio, spending 151 days in anElkhart hospital. "That's before vaccines," said Maurice.
Betty only was partially paralyzed - her arms and lungs the most affected.
"I was told four times that she wouldn't live, but we had 48 years together after that," said Maurice.
She died about seven years ago.
Beer officially retired from farming in 1980, but still helps his son farm.
He began his life in public service at the age of 32. He said he was approached by the Van Buren trustee about running for the township advisory board. He did run for four terms, and was successful in each race.
After 17 years on the board, the trustee died and Beer filled in for the remaining three years of the term.
"I didn't like book work and I didn't run for trustee again," he said.
Kosciusko County Commissioner Avis Gunter said she's known Beer since he was a trustee in Van Buren Township. She said she never had to worry about his work coming in because it was always done on time.
For about the next 10 years, he stayed out of politics. Then he received a phone call asking him to run for county commissioner. After consulting some well-known Republicans at that time, Beer committed to running. He didn't know he'd have any competition at that time, but on the same day Beer announced his candidacy, Ron Sharp also announced his intentions.
Beer won.
For the next two elections, Beer ran unopposed.
"Then Brad Jackson filed against me and he beat me fair and square," said Beer. "And we're good friends today. I supported him in the general election."
Jackson said he beat Beer only by about 3 percent. "That showed how well liked (Maurice) was," especially since Jackson said he campaigned a lot while Beer campaigned very little. If Beer had campaigned more, Jackson said, "he would have beat me."
After the primary election was over, Jackson said he and Beer did an ad together to help Jackson get elected in the general election. For Beer to do that, Jackson said, "that showed a lot of character."
Four years later, the three county commissioners called Beer on the same day, encouraging him to run for Kosciusko County Council. "I won that one narrowly," said Beer.
He decided not to run for re-election this year, citing his age and health reasons. But during his years of serving the public on the board of commissioners and council, he said, there are three things that he is most proud of having been a part of - the Emergency 911 system, the county numbering system and the county courthouse restoration. The estimate of restoring the courthouse was $3 million, but Beer said they got it done step by step in under $1 million.
"I'm proud of that building today," he said.
He also has many good things to say about the people he's worked with in the county over the years.
"I found them a very nice group to work with. Because of sickness, I had to miss a few meetings, but they covered for me very well. I'm in good health now and I appreciate and thank God for it," he said.
During his term as a councilman, he said, it seemed there was a statewide and countywide shortage of money. However, under the guidance of Mitchell, and the county being so financially conservative, this year the county is ending in "very good shape."
"I think we have a good county," Beer said, "a conservative bunch and they're very good to work with."
In 1997, Beer was named to the Kosciusko County Republican Hall of Fame. He also received the Government Excellence Award from the Greater Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce in 1997 and was a Milford Citizen of the Year in 1985.
He drove a bus for Wawasee Schools from 1979 to 1995.
"He's just given a lot of time to his community," said Jackson of Beer. "A lot of time." [[In-content Ad]]