Lillian Laura Maas

Lillian Laura Maas, 95, of Mankato, Minnesota, formerly of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, was received into her Savior’s arms on Thursday, November 14, 2013.

She was born March 7, 1918, in Van Dyne, Wisconsin, a daughter of the late William C. and Margaret Nimmer Abraham. She attended Van Dyne Public School and Zion Lutheran Parochial School.

She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Zion Lutheran Church in Van Dyne. She married Melvin Knaack of Van Dyne. Melvin died after five years of marriage. On August 14, 1948, she married the Reverend Gale Maas, who was the pastor at Zion. She took an active part in his ministry at many churches in Wisconsin and Minnesota, with the last 28 years spent at Zion Lutheran Church in Morton, Minnesota.

Supportive of her husband’s ministry, Lillian loved teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir, providing flower arrangements to adorn worship, as well as serving in various church Ladies Aid and Art Club groups.

Lillian was a faithful pastor’s wife and a loving Christian mother of her two sons. She was a beloved, amusing, and fun livewire in all her circles of involvement until the very end. She shared unselfish support and prayer many times with others in her vocation as a pastor’s wife.

She is survived by two sons: Daniel (Joanne) of Mankato, Minnesota, and Stephen (Rebecca) of Ft. Collins, Colorado; grandsons: Michael Boyce, Brenton, Andrew, and Justin Maas; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, sisters: Adele Schade, Margaret Yantz, Regina Ferden, and Agnes Frey; and brothers: Norman and Donald Abraham.

The funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17, 2013, at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 East Division Street, Fond du Lac, with Rev. Fred Toppe officiating.  Burial will be in Ledgeview Memorial Park.

The visitation will be on Sunday at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory from 1:30 p.m. until the time of service.

Memorials are preferred to Mount Olive Lutheran Church and School in Mankato, MN, whose faithful pastors and vicar ministered to her until her death.

Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family, www.machfuneralchapel.com.