Paul Robert Maass

Paul Maass, of Montevideo, died on Wednesday, February 4, 1998 at the Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 100.

Funeral services were conducted on Monday, February 9, 1998 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Leo Deitemeyer officiating.  Burial was in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Paul Robert Maass was born on September 24, 1897 in GrossKrebs, Germany to Richard and Pauline (Progitski) Maass.  He was baptized and confirmed at Evangelical Lutheran Church in GrossKrebs and grew up in West Prussia, near Hamburg.  He served in the German Army during World War I, serving in Egypt.  He was captured by the English and served in their kitchens for 3 years of captivity.  He was united in marriage to Hedwig Zirott in 1924 in Mariehwerder, Germany, and shortly thereafter fled to America, sponsored by her uncle in Marshall, MN, because of the lack of opportunities in Germany.  He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1935.  Having been trained as a butcher in Germany, he worked as a butcher in Winthrop, MN for a short time before moving to Montevideo and working at the Weisbrod Butcher Shop.  He founded the Hill Meat Market in Montevideo and later operated the Snow White Grocery and Meat Market, known later as the U-Save.  He retired after over 5 decades as a butcher.  He was especially known for his sausages.

He is survived by his wife - Hedwig; by daughters - Vange Christenson and her husband Harlen of Montevideo and Edith Skelly of Mesa, AZ; Grandchildren - Michael Christenson and his wife Le Anne of Valdez, AK; James Christenson and his wife Kathy of Lakeville, MN; Patricia Christenson of Hoquiam, WA; Mary Lou Christenson of Coeur D’Alene, ID; and Jon Christenson of Zimmerman, MN; great grandchildren - Bailey, Nikki, Jeni, Ryan, Brendan and Daniel Christenson; Amy Brock and her husband Michael; and Joshua and Cassie Hooker; as well as by a number of nieces and nephews in Germany.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandsons - Mark and Scott Christenson and by brothers and sisters in Germany.