Laura P. Maas

Laura Maas, 92 Kearney Resident Laura P. Maas, 92 of Kearney and formerly of Elm Creek, died Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 at the Mother Hull Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 AM, Saturday, November 16 at Zion Lutheran Church in Kearney with Rev. James DeLoach officiating. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Friday, November 15 at the O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Chapel in Elm Creek. Memorials are suggested to the Zion Lutheran Church in Kearney. O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. She was born June 18, 1921, to John and Emma (Anderson) Nickel on a farm north of Overton. She was the youngest of four children. Laura graduated from Elm Creek High School in 1939 and attended Kearney Teacher's College for one year, where she received a diploma in normal teacher training. She taught for three years at District 94 School near Elm Creek. On March 10, 1943, she married Edwin Maas at the Hall County Court House in Grand Island. In 1950, they purchased a farm south of Elm Creek, where they farmed and raised livestock until their retirement in 1976. Laura enjoyed gardening, sewing, crocheting and feeding her family and friends her home-cooked meals. In retirement, she and Edwin enjoyed travels to Alaska, California and Florida. In later years, with limited eyesight, she enjoyed telephone visits with family and friends. In 1993 the couple moved to Elm Creek, where they spent many hours with grandchildren and friends. In October of 2011, she moved from her home in Elm Creek to Wel-Life Assisted Living. In August of 2013, she moved to Mother Hull Home. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Kearney. She was a 4-H and Cub Scout leader, a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Westside Club in Elm Creek. Survivors include her sons, Duane and wife Pauline of Springfield, MO and Dan and wife Connie of Fullerton; daughters, Kathleen Tebbe and husband Dennis of Hastings, Loretta Tebbe and husband Michael of Hastings and Janet Reichert and husband Marvion of Elm Creek; 14 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edwin on May 23, 1997; infant daughter, Nadine; sister, Grace Thayer; and brothers Orville and Herman Nickel.

Laura P. Maas

June 18, 1921 - November 6, 2013