Ralph H. Maas, 93, of Coal Valley died Jan. 20, 2010, at Trinity Medical Center, Rock Island.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 25, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Coal Valley. 

Visitation was Sunday, Jan. 24, at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd., Orion. Burial was in Rock Island National Cemetery with military honors conducted by Milan American Legion Post 569. 

Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Ralph was born May 18, 1916, in Coal Valley, the son of Harry William and Anna Amelia (Kraklow) Maas. He married Shirley J. Anderson on June 22, 1947 in Coal Valley.  She preceded him in death on Dec. 31, 2004.

Ralph was employed by the City of Rock Island as a golf course superintendent at Saukie Golf Course.  He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was wounded on Bougainville and awarded the Purple Heart. 

Ralph was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Coal Valley.

He helped build Mill Creek Country Club, now Pinnacle Country Club. Ralph worked at Short Hills and also at Weckel Hatchery. He was a partner of Hinkey Dinkey Coal Mine, and he owned the Coal Valley skating rink. 

Ralph enjoyed hunting, trapping, fishing, farming and gardening.

He is survived by daughters, Donna (Rolly) Bender,  Mary Maas, Susan (John) Crosby and Doris (John) Gatton; grandchildren, Rob, Mike and Suzie, and Wendy and Mike Gray; his extended family, Beth Gregan and her son, Isaac; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Nellie Fuelling; a cousin, Clarice Thompson; a special friend, Mary Mathias; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred, and brothers, Glen and Donald “Top.”