Gary A. Maus 1943-2008

MAUS, BAUER, WEBB, EVANS, HARTER

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/4/2008 at 19:50:43

Gary A. Maus

Gary A. Maus, 64, of Albuquerque, N.M., formerly of Dubuque, died Friday, March 14, 2008, after a valiant fight against cancer.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, at Risen Savior Church, Albuquerque. Burial will be in Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, N.M., where military rites will be accorded. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 17, at French Mortuary, Albuquerque.

He was born in Dubuque on April 23, 1943, son of Alvin and Annette ("Otto") Maus. He married Christa Bauer on July 17, 1971, in Homburg Germany.

Gary attended Loras College before joining the Army during Vietnam. He became a helicopter pilot, ultimately flying 1400 combat hours.

Gary was awarded the Air Medal with a V for "valor" for "exposing his aircraft to intense enemy fire while evacuating the critically wounded during the battle of Dak To". He also received two Purple Hearts and was nominated for a Silver Star.

After retiring from the Army in 1986, he continued to serve his country as a U.S. Customs Inspector for 20 more years.

Gary loved his family and friends. He was a master at the barbeque and enjoyed entertaining others.

He always had a soft-spot for animals (he had a reputation in Vietnam for flying with his dog). The uglier the animal the more passionate Gary was.

Surviving are his wife, Christa, son Anthony Maus, of Albuquerque; daughters, Christina (Dustin) Webb, of Newmarket, N.H., and Michelle (Jonathan) Evans, of El Paso, Texas.; his first granddaughter, Anabelle Evans, who Gary fortunately met; sister, Connie (Elmer) Harter, of Dubuque; and brothers, Ron (Hope) Maus, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Rick (Ginny) Maus, of Omaha, Neb.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Sunday, March 16, 2008