Lester W. Maassel

LESTER W. MAASSEL, 88, of Fort Wayne, passed away at 4:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 at Emeritus Assisted Living in Fort Wayne. Lester was born June 1, 1924 in Sherwood, Ohio a son of the late George Maassel and Clara (Schroeder) Maassel. He graduated from Ridgeville H.S. in Ohio, and was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force serving in World War II until 1946. He married Ruth I. (Gerken) Maassel June 15, 1947 in Napoleon, Ohio. He was a Custodian for Fort Wayne Community Schools for 46 years retiring in 1988. He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Surviving are his sons, Robert W. (Joy) Maassel of Fort Wayne, Richard T. (Connie) Maassel of Radcliff, Ky., and Ronald D. (Vicki) Maassel of Grabill; daughters, Mary E. (Martin) Mannason of Camarillo, Calif., Karen S. (Gary) Houser of Huntertown and Linda J. (Michael) Gerbers of Columbia City; brothers, Delmar H. Maassel of Volo, Ill., and Richard G. (Carol) Maassel of Fort Wayne; sisters, Juanita F. (Oliver) Thorpe of Bellingham, Wash., Lois Wesche of Fort Wayne, Ruth A. (Donald) McClain of Columbus, Ohio and Miriam E. (Leonard) Neumann of Greenwood, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Sept. 14, 2003; brothers, Paul and Norman. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 3425 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne, with calling one hour prior to service. Rev. Mark Neubacher officiating. Visitation also from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home. Burial at Concordia Cemetery Gardens with Military Service at the Cemetery by the U.S. Army. Preferred memorials to Worship for Shut In's and Holy Cross Lutheran Church.