Kathleen Frances Maas

Kathleen Frances Maas, 84, of Grapevine, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2021, after a short illness. Kathleen was born on July 10, 1936, the only child of Peter and Anne (Roy) Lusaretta, in San Francisco, California. Her father was a longshoreman and her mother worked as a secretary. Kathleen attended school in San Francisco and graduated from the Academy of St. Mary-of-the-Wasatch High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1954. She married Lloyd Otto Maas, Jr. in St. Mary’s Church in Winona, Minnesota, on October 8, 1956, then raised their five children in Trempealeau, Wisconsin. She moved to Texas in 1979.

Kathleen enjoyed a long, happy, fulfilled life with family, friends, and critters. She had a love of travel, books, and music, especially when playing the violin, piano, and guitar. Despite a lifelong fear of flying, Kathleen was always ready to travel with friends and family to both new and familiar destinations, opting to go by car or train whenever possible. She traveled frequently from Texas to visit her children and their families in La Crosse and Two Rivers, Wisconsin; Sandpoint, Idaho; and Seattle, Washington. With her traveling companions, Ruth, Martha, Karen, Jane, Lora, Liz, and Doris, Kathleen explored California, Texas, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and South Dakota, and many places in-between. She often joined family members who were traveling for business – taking advantage of opportunities to immerse herself in a locale’s history, food, books, and sights, in the company of people she treasured.

Kathleen had an early and special relationship with animals. One of the earliest memories she had was from her highchair, gazing out the window at the chickens scratching in the dirt of her aunt and uncle’s cattle ranch in California’s Altamont region. The ranch was her favorite childhood home, as she was always in the company of animals. Throughout her life, Kathleen cared for a variety of pets and wildlife, including cats, birds, squirrels, and ducks.

Kathleen is survived by her five children and their families: Karl (Rose) Maas and Nicholas (Steph Flores) Maas, Mark (Marilia) Hammond, and Laura (Jeff) Windpassinger; Claire (Thomas, Sr.) Jessessky and Lauren (Corey) Matulle, Meredith (Trevor) Stiles, and Thomas (Ansley McLeod) Jessessky, Jr.; Cheryl (Donald) Kirk and Jean (Kevin) Paylow; Joseph Maas; Michael Maas and Mariah Maas and Austin Maas. She is also survived by extended family members and their loved ones: Tom Maas, Mary Anne (Richard) Thompson, and Peggy Jacobson. Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law, Lloyd Sr., and Ruth Maas.

In lieu of cards or flowers, please consider a donation to the Grapevine Public Library or Grapevine Animal Services, community organizations that Kathleen cared about deeply.