Vernon Maas

Vernon Maas, age 79, of Gettysburg, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2008 peacefully at his home after a short struggle with leukemia, kidney and heart disease.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 22, 2008 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Gettysburg with Pastor Mark Moldenhauer officiating. Burial was in the Gettysburg Cemetery, with Military Honors. Visitation was held from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at the church with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service.

Max Vernon Maas was born April 4, 1929 to August Charles and Pauline Louise (Nagel) Maas in Gettysburg. He grew up on the family farm north of Gettysburg. He attended grade school through the eighth grade. He then needed to work on the farm with his father so his younger siblings could attend grade school and high school. He worked for Frank Von Wald at his service station for several years before going to work for Frank’s brother, Joe Von Wald, on Joe’s Farm. Vernon served in the US Army and was deployed during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953. Upon his return to the states, he worked for many years for the ASCS office measuring land.

Vernon married Miriam Faye Nielsen on June 6, 1965 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Marcus, IA. After their marriage they settled on the family farm where he took over the farming operation. In addition to the farming, Vernon also sold DeKalb Seed Corn for nearly twenty years. He continued farming until 1979 when he went to work for Alfred Nagel at Nagel Motor as a mechanic. He then went to work for the Gettysburg Medical Center in 1987 where he served as the head of maintenance until his retirement in December 2006.

Vernon enjoyed working on old machinery and vehicles, completed many construction and painting projects at his own home, his children’s homes and the Medical Center, he enjoyed reading, watching old movies and using his strong bass voice to sing in many community choirs through the years.

Vernon was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church where he held several positions on the church council and was a member of the choir. He was a lifetime member of the VFW, serving as the Post Commander from 1976-1979 and a member of the Hoven School Board during the years his children attended country school.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Miriam; daughter Ann and husband Neal Cruse of Huron, SD; son David and wife Angela Maas of Rapid City, SD; daughter Sarah Sue and husband Keith Tanner of Gettysburg; three grandsons – Jacob Cruse, Nathanael Tanner and Max Maas; three granddaughters – Emily Cruse, Darian Tanner and Meghan Maas; two sisters – Elma Mangin, Amy and husband Jim Lake of Gettysburg; one brother Kenneth and wife Dorothy Maas of Aberdeen, SD; two brother in-laws – James and wife Beverly Nielson of Marcus, IA and Martin Schipull of Brookings, SD; 16 nieces and nephews and 36 great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1975, his mother in 1999 and one brother-in-law, Richard Mangin, in 2000.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be directed to Compassionate Care Hospice of Gettysburg, 5200 S Cliff Ave Suite 103, Sioux Falls, SD 57108 and various Lutheran ministries.

Music was provided by the church choir.

Pallbearers were Vernon’s nephews Tim Mangin, Tom Mangin, Todd Mangin, John Lake, Jay Maas, Wade Nielsen, Chad Nielsen and Jason Nielsen.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Vernon's arrangements.