Joseph L. Maas, aged 88, of 419 Washington, Villa C, Apt. 9, Quincy, died on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, at 8:17 p.m. in the Emergency Room of Blessing Hospital. He was born June 22, 1922, in Quincy, a son of John T. and Minnie (Kessler) Maas. He married Dona Weatherford on February11, 1944, in Santa Ana, CA, while in the military service. He married Margaret E. Buffington of Quincy on August 13, 1956, in Belleville, IL, and she survives.

Mr. Maas attended St. Boniface Grade School and graduated with the last class of Quincy College Academy in 1940. He entered the military with Company G, 130th Infantry Reg. of the 33rd Infantry Div. of the Illinois National Guard for duty and training at Camp Forrest, Tullahoma, TN, in the spring of 1941. He attended training schools in Colorado and Nevada.

In 1943, he entered the US Army Flying School and earned his pilot wings as an officer. He was assigned to and flew B-25 bombers in the Pacific Theater until the end of WWII. He was subsequently recalled for the Korean Conflict as a jet fighter pilot and munitions storage officer at depot level, once again in the Pacific area. He continued service, retiring as Capt., USAF. During the interim he attended Denver University in Colorado.
Mr. Maas then served with USAF Civil Service for ten years as engineering technician on jet fighters and as a Master Instructor of the USAF training command, retiring with a rating of GS-11.

Mr. Maas next served with Dade County, FL, aviation department as an airport attendant for a period of ten years, returning to Quincy after Hurricane Andrew in late 1992. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council of Las Vegas, NV, and he continued his faith with the Traditional Holy Roman Catholic Church, attending mass at Quincy’s St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife Margaret, his children, Theresa Sullivan and her husband Robert, of Las Vegas, NV; John J. Maas of Homestead, FL; Mary C. Stephens and her husband Mark, of Tucson, AZ; step-sons: Dan Douglas and his wife Felicity, of Ames, IA; and Anthony Douglas and his wife Karen, of Chatham, IL. Thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren survive.
Two sisters, Ruth Heberling of Cape Coral, FL, and Victoria Scholz and her husband Robert of Grand Rapids, MI, and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Paul L. Maas, Sgt. US Army Air Force, two sisters, Loretta Fischer and Mildred Neal, a son, Joseph Waitman, and a granddaughter, Margaret Ann Maas.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. with a 10:00 a.m. funeral mass at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 1009 N. Eighth Street, Quincy.
Interment will be in St. Boniface Cemetery with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post #37. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Duker & Haugh.
Memorials are suggested to St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, WGEM Honor Flights, or to the donor’s choice.