Carol Maas

Carol Ida Maas, age 87, of Edgewood, New Mexico died on May 8, 2024, from complications of cancer at home with her beloved husband, Edward, and daughter, Kaye, by her side. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Edgewood, New Mexico. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. An interment service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Conroy, Iowa at a future date.

Carol Ida Maas, the daughter and youngest child of Helmuth and Ida (Hild) Boettcher, was born on November 16, 1936, in Storm Lake, Iowa. She attended the grade school at Zion Lutheran Church and later, high school in Newell, Iowa. Carol met her sweetheart, Edward, in Seward, Nebraska where they both attended Concordia Teachers College. Carol taught school for several years before and after they were married on July 13, 1958, in Storm Lake, Iowa. After briefly living in Columbus, Nebraska where they had their first child, Kaye, and second child, Joel, they moved to Brighton, Colorado where their son, Jon, was born. Carol and Edward went on to live and raise their family in Colorado Springs, Colorado and finally settled in Edgewood, New Mexico in their later years among their beloved friends and congregation at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where Edward served for many years as their pastor. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease some years ago, Edward served as Carol's full-time caregiver in their beautiful New Mexico home until her death. They happily celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last year there surrounded by close friends and family.

In high school, Carol began expressing her passion for life and leadership. She had lead roles in drama productions, served as 4-H president, was elected homecoming queen as a junior, and served as a Wather League officer. After marriage, she fully devoted herself to supporting her husband, making a home, and raising her children. She also consistently made time to serve God and others at the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations wherever she lived as a choir member and through women's ministries where she made life-long friends. Carol had a special affiliation with the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) where she served as newsletter editor and eventually district president from 1986 to 1990. She then went on to found and support the Women in God's Service (WinGs) group at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. In later years, she and Edward consistently had daily devotions together reading scripture on their couch after breakfast, which was meaningful and strengthening to each.

Carol was a talented seamstress, crafter, vocalist, and event planner. She loved family history, travel, flower gardening, and word games. She also truly enjoyed acting in local melodramas and musicals throughout her life. Her own beautiful handsewn outfits, clever Barbie clothing creations, rich singing voice, and delicious cream puffs were also widely appreciated by her many friends. Carol journaled daily in what is now an extraordinary written family history that spans the last 65 years of her life.

Carol was truly passionate about being loving and caring in the many roles she had throughout her life: daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, leader, and friend. Carol was especially treasured for her ability to befriend, engage, and encourage newcomers, friends, and family even into her final days. She will be dearly missed.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Edward Maas of Edgewood, New Mexico and her children: Kaye Mathews of Denver, Colorado; Joel (Joy) Maas of Waynesboro, Virginia; Jon (Tenley) Maas of Tualatin, Oregon; her brother Lloyd (Nora) Boettcher of Storm Lake, Iowa; her grandchildren Kelly (Richard) Mathews-Ellgen; Benjamin (Jillian) Mathews; Riley Maas; Madeline Maas; Caleb Maas; Jack Maas; and Carson Maas.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Helmuth and Ida Boettcher; sisters Lorraine Clausen, Ruth Harpstead, Martha (Mardie) White; brother Lorenz (Bud) Boettcher and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.frenchfunerals.com. Flowers for the funeral service may be sent by Friday, May 17, 2024, to French Funeral and Cremations at the Lomas and Eubank location in Albuquerque.

The family particularly wishes to thank their loving friends from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Legacy Home Hospice staff for their support and care during Carol's final days.

To God be the Glory!