Richard Edgar Maas

RICHARD E. (DICK) MAAS
Entered peacefully into God's loving arms on Monday, August 18, 2025. Age 98. Beloved husband of the late Carol Maas (nee Herman) for 68 years. Loving father of Richard (Susan) Maas Jr., Martin (Ellen) Maas, and William (Susan) Maas. Proud grandpa of Erich (Whitney) Maas, Anna (Richard) Bradshaw, Abigail (Jarryd) Todman, Lydia (Luke) Fetzner, Mary (Andrew) Davis, Elisabeth (Dakota) Davis, Sara (Ethan) Boone, Alex (Mikayla) Maas, Austin (Lindsay Mattson) Maas, Carla (Chris) Nelson, great grandpa of Jace and Esme Todman, August Bradshaw, Lenyn and Millie Jo Maas, and Ella Nelson. Brother-in-law of Earl (Joanne) Herman. Further survived by many special relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Carol, parents Edgar and Elsie Maas, and sister Joyce (Howard) Woldt.
Visitation Saturday September 6 at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church, W196 N9525 Cross View Way, Menomonee Falls from 11:30 AM until the time of funeral service at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Richard's name may be contributed to Grace Ev. Lutheran Church or to the charity of one's choice.
Dick's early years were spent in Milwaukee, WI, when his family lived near 29th and Clarke streets or with his grandfather on 17th street for 2 years. During those early years, he met people whose friendships lasted for 70+ years.
Dick graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1945 and Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL in 1950. He was called to be the principal at St. John's in Corcoran, MN in 1950, where he was teacher for grades 1-8, played the organ, directed the choir, was in charge of the Walther League, cleaned the school, and acted as the church secretary. The teacherage was built in 1864. He had to use the bathroom inside the back door of the parsonage or in the church. The well water in the teacherage turned all his pots rusty, and he washed with rain water from the cistern. He slept in the bedroom upstairs unless it was too cold. Then he slept on the couch downstairs. Water ran through the foundation during a snow melt, then froze on the basement floor. His call to St. Mark in Houston, TX came in February. Although his service in MN was short, it brought Carol and him together, he made lasting friends, and he learned a lot that helped him in the future. The greatest blessing he received that year was meeting and marrying Carol Marie Herman on June 16, 1951.
In early July of 1951, they headed to Houston in his 1941 Dodge.
That first year in Houston, he taught grades 3-7. Mrs. Frank Beale started the year teaching kindergarten, then she and her husband adopted 2 children and she retired. The school board asked Mrs. Maas to teach kindergarten, which she did for the remainder of the year. Richard and Carol's three sons were born in Houston while Richard helped usher St. Mark through a period of strong growth. When he accepted a call in 1970 to Grace Lutheran School in Menomonee Falls, WI, St. Mark had grown to be the largest school in the Texas district with 443 students and 15 teachers. Dick always said the Texas years were some of the best of his life, with the nicest people, many great friends made, and the growth of his loving family.
At Grace Lutheran School, Dick was principal and minister of education, taught various social studies and math classes, taught bible classes, made hospital visits, assisted the pastor, served on the boards of Lutheran High School and Concordia University, and generally kept busy. Richard always considered his work to be a calling from the Lord, not just a job. From time to time, he received job offers that were more lucrative, but Dick chose to remain in the work that gave him the most satisfaction, and the opportunity to be a blessing to the students and parents that he came into contact with. After retirement in the early '90s, he taught 8th grade algebra, kept school financial records, chaired the church trustees, and volunteered at an adult day care. Throughout all those years, he took his sons hunting and fishing, and travelled around the world with Carol. He missed her terribly after her passing in 2019, but he took pleasure in friends, family, the accumulation of birthdays, and having an occasional Manhattan with family and friends. Though he has left us for now and been reunited with Carol, we all look forward to seeing him again.
Dick's funeral service can be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@GraceLutheranMinistries
As Dick was fond of saying, the Lord's blessings be with you all.