Thomas Dale Maske
Thomas Dale Maske, 83, of Anna, died at 10:23 p.m. Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Integrity Health Care of Anna.
He was born on Sept. 3, 1934, in Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa, the son of Dale and Margery Maske.
At the age of 16, he was diagnosed with polio and spent his remaining 67 years in a manual wheelchair because of the disease.
After graduating from high school in 1952, he went on to graduate from Oklahoma State Tech in 1954.
He married Sylvia Estal on Dec. 28, 1954, in West Branch, Iowa.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Mr. Maske spent much of his career traveling the world, with visits to England, Germany, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Australia. He and his family lived in Taipei, Taiwan, from 1970 to 1976, where he served as the director of purchasing for Admiral Overseas Corporation.
After returning to the United States, Mr. Maske served with several corporations and a nonprofit entity in a variety of positions typically involving purchasing. He spent 10 years before retirement as the owner of Jiffy Print in Evansville, Ind.
He was very active in civic organizations and the United Methodist Church. Some of the awards and citations that he received over his life include the Civitan Outstanding Lieutenant Governor Award (Mt. Carmel, Illinois Chapter) in 1985 and the Civitan Key Award in 1987.
He was an active Amateur Radio Operator (KA9EYS) for many years and received the RADIO-President’s Award (Mt. Carmel, Illinois Amateur Radio Club) in 1984. He was awarded the Davenport Jaycee Club’s Person of the Year Award in 1963 for co-chairing a mass-inoculation drive to eradicate polio.
He served as the church treasurer for the Anna United Methodist Church from 2003 to 2013 and also as a church trustee.
In addition to these activities, he enjoyed boating on the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, photography and was an early advocate of personal computing starting in 1985 and continuing as an avid Mac user for the remainder of his life.
Beyond all these things, Mr. Maske was a husband and father, grandfather and great-grandfather who inspired his family by never allowing his handicap to dictate his circumstances. Whether living overseas, driving automobiles, all-terrain vehicles and boats, or navigating a flight of stairs in his wheelchair, he never let human obstacles get in his way and he relied on his Lord for the spiritual ones. This is his legacy and how he will be remembered.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Sylvia; children Mark (wife Mary) Maske of Austin, Texas, Jocelyn (husband James) Brown of Albion, Jay (wife Tara) Maske of Olathe, Kan., and Craig (wife Marjorie) Maske of Plantersville, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Dick (wife Judy) Maske of West Branch, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Margery, and by a granddaughter, Jessica Brown.
Graveside services for Thomas Maske will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 13, at McGinnis Cemetery, with Pastor Bill Minor officiating.
Memorials can be made to the United Methodist Church and will be accepted at the cemetery or funeral home.
Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro is in charge of arrangements.
To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.