Earl R. Maas passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.
He was born July 23, 1920, in Mauston, the eldest of four children to Albert W. Maas Sr. and Jennie (Caldwell) Maas.
Earl grew up in Watertown and graduated from Watertown High School in 1938 and UW-Madison with a degree in civil engineering. On Feb. 12, 1944, he was married to Grace Cushman in Watertown and they recently celebrated their 74th anniversary.
Shortly after college he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a naval officer on active duty for two years during World War II. He was stationed in the Philippine Islands as a member of the "Seabees" (Construction Battalion).
After the war he went to work for Maas Brothers Construction Co., a company founded by his father in 1922. He served for many years as president and the firm grew and prospered under his energetic and capable management. Many of the buildings in this city and the surrounding communities were built under his leadership: schools, factories, and city and county buildings including Watertown Hospital, Riverside Middle School, Webster, Douglas and Lincoln schools, St. Henry School, much of the Marquardt campus, the Jefferson County Courthouse and many more.
Earl was an avid golfer and sports fan, and also a proud Badger backer. He devoted many hours to the development of the second nine holes at the Watertown Country Club and actually shot his age or better from age 74 to 90. He served as president of that club and was active on many committees there over the years.
He was a longtime member of the Watertown Elks Club, serving as exalted ruler from 1957-1959. He was a 70-year member of the American Legion. He also had been a board member of the Merchants National Bank which later became the Marine Bank, and then Chase Bank in Watertown.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings: Al Maas Jr., Edith Maas Nevermann and Ruth Ann Maas Kaercher.
He leaves behind his wife of 74 years, Grace Cushman Maas, and three sons, Thomas (Kathy) of Duluth, Minnesota, John (Chris) of Watertown and Robert (Paula) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. There are six grandchildren: Collin (Gail) Maas of Fort Atkinson, Leslie Maas (Rafael) Cortes of Dorado, Puerto Rico, Jason (Amy) Maas of Madison, Johnny (Carolina) Maas of San Francisco, California, Anthony Maas of Madison and Jeremy Maas of Anchorage, Alaska, and 10 great-grandchildren. He was a role model and positive influence on them all.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the caregivers at Marquardt Assisted Living and Marquardt Hospice for the loving attention given to our dad.
Memorials may be directed to Marquardt Hospice, Marquardt Assisted Living or to the Earl and Al Maas Scholarship Fund.
A memorial service to honor the life of Earl will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at the Pederson-Nowatka Funeral Home in Watertown with the Rev. Barbara Berg presiding. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.
Pederson-Nowatka Funeral Home is serving the family. To place an online condolence, please visit pn-fh.com.
Pederson-Nowatka Funeral Home
213 S. Fifth St. Watertown
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