SPRINGFIELD

John Maras, 85, of Springfield died peacefully Saturday, May 13, 2017 at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 19, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Springfield with Pastor Josh Doughy and Chaplain Noel Wetter officiating. Burial will be in the Springfield Cemetery with Full Military Honors conducted by the American Legion Post 257. Visitation will be 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Springfield. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm is in charge of the arrangements. To leave an online condolence for his family or to sign the guestbook go to: www.mvfh.org

John Winthrop Maras was born October 27, 1931 to John Steven Maras and Margaret (Sandmeyer) Maras in Benson, MN. He graduated from Benson, MN High School in May of 1949. In January of 1950 he volunteered to serve with the USAF. His squadron of the 27th Fighter Escort Wing was stationed overseas in England, and Japan. They also took part in above ground nuclear weapons testing at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. John was honorably discharged in 1954. After separating from the USAF, John married the love of his life, Ruth Bock, on March 24, 1955. In 2017, they celebrated 62 years of married life together. The newlyweds spent a short year working and living in California before returning to Redwood Falls, MN in 1956 where John began a 40+ year career in the car business, parts then sales, in the MN communities of Redwood Falls, Tracy, Springfield and St. James (Ford products were his favorite). John was a member of the Springfield United Methodist Church where he served as an usher for 25+ years and was a 61 year member of the American Legion. John enjoyed reading books, playing games, all MN sport teams, fishing, hunting ducks & geese, and his pet dogs and cats. John could be found having coffee with friends at Gene's or Fritz's Café. He shared his love of golf with all his grandchildren letting them play a hole, driving the cart, or finding golf balls in the Cottonwood River. At the Springfield golf course John aced # 8 twice and # 2 once. John loved music. He came from a singing/ musical family; including his mother, sisters and brothers. KNUJ polka music was often heard in the house. Johnny Cash was a personal favorite until the Maras Sisters & Jacob (his grandchildren) came to be. Then John became their #1 fan, promoter, and tape salesman. John dearly loved all of his family.

John is survived by his wife Ruth, three children, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren – Steven (Joyce) Maras – Angela (Tim) Hoekman and children - Isaiah, Annaliese, and Tobiah; Lindsay (Bill) Sunde and children - Willem, Lily, Willard, and Layne; Krystal (Craig) Pederson and daughters Camille and Hazel; Kathryn (Jesse) Hohm and daughters Elaina, Alexandra, Audri, and Elizabeth; Jacob (Emily) Maras and children Ezra and Primrose; Alison (Kyle) Thyen and children Lucia and Kolbe; Jill (Al) Manthei and children John and Tina; Wendy (Jeff) Schuller and children Jamie and Benjamin; sisters - Linda (Con) Tikkala; Mari (Tom) Hansen; Annie (Bob) Syverson; brothers – Mardy (Annie) Schermerhorn; Jeff (Diane) Schermerhorn; sisters-in-law Faith Bock and Beulah Thomssen; brother–in-law Glen (Shirley) Bock; and many nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents – John & Margaret Maras Schermerhorn; Step-father Guy Lee Schermerhorn; daughters Amy (1971) and Rachel (1975); sister Muriel Sandmeyer; brothers-in-law–Alvin, Le Roy, and Milan Bock, and Gordie Thomssen; and sister-in-law–Betty Bock.
www.mvfh.org

.