Joseph Francis Kass

Joseph Francis Kass, 88, formerly of Topeka, died August 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He was born in Topeka, Kansas on September 19, 1920 the son of Adam Jacob and Magdelene (Steib) Kass.  Joe attended Sacred Heart School and Capitol Catholic High School. 

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Haggard Destroyer #555.  Joe saw considerable action in the Pacific Theater and was severely wounded on April 19, 1945 in Okinawa, Japan. 

While in Topeka Joe worked in the Santa Fe Shops as a sheet metal worker for nineteen years before moving to Los Gatos, California in 1959.  In California he was a sheet metal worker for the Local Union #309.  In 1982 he and his wife Mildred moved to Nevada.

Joe was a former member of the Elks,  and maintaned a current membership in the Moose Lodge and the Knights of Columbus  in Topeka.  He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Joe married Mildred \"Millie\" Coen on February 2, 1942 in Oskaloosa, Kansas.  She preceded him in death on June 28, 2002.  He is survived by a daughter Linda Sue Kass of Pahrump, Nevada; two grandchildren, Jennifer Banchero of Aliceville, Alabama and Michael Conlan and wife Natalie of San Jose, California, and four great grandchildren, a brother John G. Kass of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a sister, Madeline Hanson of Topeka.  

Mr. Kass will lie in state at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home on Thursday after 2:00 p.m. A Parish Rosary will be prayed at 9 a.m. on Friday followed immediately by the celebration of a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with military graveside services conducted by Philip Billard Post #1650 of the V.F.W.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas  66603.

Online condolences to www.brennanmathenafh.com.