Gary Glenn Maas

Gary Glenn Maas, age 83 of Atlantic, Iowa, died at Heritage House on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. He was born to Glenn and Ruth (Edwards) Maas in Atlantic, Iowa. He and older brother, Max, lived on the family farm where they raised crops and livestock. He went to Massena Country School #6 for K-8 and graduated from Massena High School with the class of 1960.

Gary worked for the Massena Co-op for a short time, then for Purina in their agricultural sales division. Gary enlisted in the National Guard during the Vietnam War serving for both the Army and Air Force. In 1977 he established the Massena branch of Agri Careers, Inc; the first agriculture-specific job recruitment company in the United States, while continuing farming on the family farm outside of Massena.

Gary was a member of the National Speakers Association, presenting programs on Agricultural Human Resources in 48 States and several Canadian provinces, as well as teaching in the Advanced Agriculture programs at Cornell University and Texas A&M.

Gary served on many boards over the years including Massena Telephone Company as President for 25 years, Methodist Church Board of Ordained Ministry, UNB Board of Directors, University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation for 25 years, Iowa Aviation Preservation Association, and was a founding board member of SW Iowa Egg.

Gary had many hobbies including travel, golf, sailing, and woodworking, but his favorite was being a pilot. He loved nothing more than getting into the cockpit and flying, instructing students, or giving someone their first plane ride. He flew for almost 60 years and loved every minute of it.

Gary met the love of his life on July 10, 1987, on a blind date, and he and Judy married on September 6, 1987. Their blended family of 5 included Gary’s two sons Brent and Brad and Judy’s daughter Amy. The combined Maas clan grew as kids-in-law and grandchildren joined the family.

Preceding him in death are his parents Glenn and Ruth, in-laws Bruce Morrison II, Courtney Morrison Nelson and Ed Nelson, brother Max, sister-in-law Judy, brother-in-law Bruce Morrison III, and grandson Gus Anstey.

Those left to cherish his memory include: Wife Judy Morrison Maas of Atlantic, Iowa; sons, Brently Maas of Anita, Iowa and his children Anna Maas (Carter Bertrand) and Blake Maas, Bradly (Pamela) Maas of Washougal, Washington and their daughters Paige and Jamie Maas; daughter, Amy (Cory) Anstey of Cumberland, Iowa and their children Kaycee (daughter Haidyn Suhr), Emma, Bailey, and Meredythe Anstey, and Gabe and Riley Vernon; sister-in-law: Jan Morrison of Omaha, Nebraska; The many friends he made at morning coffee in both Atlantic and Ft. Myers, Tammy Jensen for carrying on the Agri Careers legacy, the Frank Jones family for continuing to care for the Maas Farms land, and dear friends Rich & Nedra Perry, and Garry & Donna Pellett.; as well as nephews, nieces, cousins, and extended family and friends from near and far.

Special thanks to the dedicated staff at Heritage House (Harmony Cove) and the nursing team at Hospice of the Midwest for their compassionate care.

A Celebration of his life will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, September 6th, 2025 at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA. A reception will following in the funeral home's Community Room. Memorials can be made in his name to either UND Aerospace Foundation or Michael J. Fox Foundation and can be sent to or left at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home – PO Box 523, Atlantic, IA. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic is caring for the Maas family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com