Worthington, MN
Joseph “Joe” Francis Maras, age 75, was born on November 19, 1941, in Windom, MN, the son of John and Anna (Wieskus) Maras. He was the 11th of 12 children (7 boys and 5 girls). He grew up on a farm north of Windom and attended grade school at Dale Township Country School. Joe graduated in 1959 from Windom High School.
He loved sports; he started pitching fast pitch softball at the age of 9 for his 4H club. Joe also played football for Windom High School and won all conference honors. He continued to pitch fast pitch softball for many years of his married life for many different teams through 1976.
Joe married Audrey Minion on August 10, 1963. They lived in Bingham Lake, MN until 1965 when they moved to the family farm after his father’s death. Joe worked at the Delft Elevator as a feed truck driver, the Windom Elevator, and Moon’s Locker until moving to Worthington in 1980 to manage the Worthington Grain & Feed Elevator until his retirement in 2004. He loved gardening, hunting, and playing or watching sports. Joe passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at the Crossroads Care Center in Worthington, MN.
Joe is survived by his wife, Audrey Maras of Worthington; five children, Gregory Maras of Worthington, Douglas (Tamra Schippmann) Maras of Round Lake, Lynette (David) Sherer of Worthington, David (Laurie) Maras of Worthington, and James (Bobbi) Maras of Browerville; nine grandchildren, Marcus (Kelly) & Nathan (Greg) Maras, Devon & Jared (Doug) Maras, Alexis & Logan (Lynn) Sherer, Dillon & Lincoln (Dave) Maras, and Chloe (James) Maras; two step grandchildren, Jacquelynn & Carly (Doug) Schippmann; five great grandchildren, Jayden & Alisa (Marcus) Maras, Serina (Devon) Maras, and Sadriela & Allyda (Alexis) Chicas; two step great grandchildren, Axial Schippmann & Ryker Gear (Jacquelynn); two brothers, Paul (Gerry) Maras of Windom and Ed (Pat) Maras of Urbandale, IA; four sisters, Helen Haugen, Rosie Schwalbach, and Arlene (Leo) Bartosh all from Windom and Kathy (Henry) Grothaus of Afton, MN, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Ray, Izzy, John, Mike and Gladys; two nephews, Richard and Tom Maras; brothers-in-law, Howard Haugen, James Schwalbach, and sister-in-law, Pauline Maras.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington, MN, with Father Jim Callahan officiating.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Benson Funeral Home in Worthington, MN.
Previous Events
Visitation
10
Oct
1225 Ryans Road
Worthington, MN 56187
Service
11
Oct
1215 7th Ave
Worthington, MN 56187
