Eileen Thelma Maas

Eileen Thelma Maas, 86, died peacefully March 5, 2013 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer due to complications of a stroke.

A memorial service is planned May 29 at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 501 Bogard Road, Wasilla. Additional services are planned in Minnesota at a later date. Her ashes will be buried at Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minnesota with the love of her life, husband Thomas Chase.

Eileen was born Sept. 25, 1926, in Manitoba, Canada, to Emil and Hazel Knobel. She became an Alaska resident in June 2007 at the age of 80 years, when she drove up in a U-Haul, pulling her car behind, all the way from Elk River, Minn.

Eileen graduated from high school in Robbinsdale, Minn., in 1944. She married Thomas R. Chase in 1946, and worked at the Chase Café in Robbinsdale for 20 years. In addition, she worked at Chase excavation in Crystal, Minn., for 17 years, and the city of Robbinsdale for two years.

Eileen was affiliated with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. She was very active and involved, especially in the potlucks. She was also affiliated with various churches in Minnesota.

Eileen loved to sew. She was self-employed, making custom drapery and bedspreads. If you needed something custom made or tailored, she would have it done in one day. She also loved children, gardening, traveling and reading. Her favorite passion, though, was to be in charge of the kitchen.

Surviving are her sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas R. and Linda Chase and Samuel L. and Char Chase, all of Minnesota; son, David R. Chase of Minnesota; daughters and sons-in-law, Eileen (Neen) and Dennis R. Illies and Catherine C. and Edward Vankrevelen, all of Alaska; 17 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; sisters, Vivian Buckman of Missouri and Anna Schuler of Minnesota; brothers-in-law, John Buckman of Missouri, Matt LaBissoniere of Minnesota and Charles (uncle Butch) Chase of Minnesota; sister-in-law, Pat LaBissoniere of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her first husband of 25 years, Thomas R. Chase; parents, Hazel and Emil Knobel; father and mother-in-law, Samuel and Clara Chase; brothers, Earl and Lawrence Knobel; and her second husband of 24 years, Reuben Maas.

Eileen’s nickname by everyone she met was “Spitfire!” She loved traveling. She had a map of the United States with red pins covering every state and city she had been — every one except Hawaii. She loved her family, especially the grandkids and great-grandkids, friends and all animals. She was always game for anything at anytime. You could count on her to pack a lunch with her sandwiches and homemade cookies. She loved challenges that life threw at her. She always had a positive attitude and pennies in her pocket.

Cards can be sent to Neen Illies, P.O. Box 870729, Wasilla, AK 99687.

Arrangements are with Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel.