Mr. Robert Joseph Kaas

Mr. Robert Joseph Kaas, 80, of Emmitsburg, died Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at his home. He was the husband of the late Betty Topper Kaas, his wife of 54 years.
Born Oct. 11, 1929, in Rocky Ridge, he was the son of the late Martin Jr. and Bernadette Orndorff Kaas.

Bob was engaged in farming all of his life. He drove a mail truck and milk truck, making deliveries to Baltimore. He also worked at Cambridge Rubber Co. in Littlestown, Pa., for several years, and retired, after 29 years, from the Baltimore Brick Plant, Rocky Ridge.

He was a member of the Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Co. for more than 40 years and received an Honor Member Award in 1995. He was also a member of the Emmitsburg Bowling League and the Emmitsburg Senior Center. Bob loved the Baltimore Orioles, small game hunting and trapping, bingo, playing cards, pitching horseshoes and for 25 years he organized the horseshoe tournament for the Thurmont and Emmitsburg Community Show. He was a member of St. Anthony's Shrine, Holy Name Society and was an usher for many years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his children, James Kaas and fiancée, Susan Wachter, Donald Kaas Sr. and wife, Pam, all of Emmitsburg, Charles Kaas Sr. and wife, Terry, of Thurmont, George Kaas and wife, Carolyn, of Frederick, Jane Merriman and husband, Clarence, Dale Kaas and wife, Diane, and Russell Kaas and wife, Jennifer, all of Thurmont, and Leon Kaas and wife, Christine, of Middletown; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Mr. Kaas and his wife raised her brothers, Charles "Tim" Topper and John A. Topper of Emmitsburg, and her sister, Lucille Jackson of Ventura, Calif., as though they were their children. He is also survived by his siblings, Rita Field of Upland, Calif., Marie Stambaugh and husband, Franklin, of Rocky Ridge, Ruth Seidel of Gettysburg, Pa., David Kaas and wife, Juanita, of Hyndman, Pa., Corrine Miller and husband, Brook, and Virginia Althoff and husband, Edward, all of Emmitsburg, and Rosalie Ferrebee and husband, Wayne, of Thurmont.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, and from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Stauffer Funeral Home, 104 E. Main St., Thurmont. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at St. Anthony's Shrine Parish, St. Anthony's Road, Emmitsburg, with Father Mike Kuhn as celebrant.

Interment will be in St. Anthony's Cemetery.

His grandsons will be pallbearers, Donald Kaas Jr., Jason Kaas, Charles Kaas Jr., Christopher Merriman, Martin Kaas and Thomas Kaas. Honorary pallbearers will be Joseph Kaas and Brandon Kaas.
 

If you knew Loretta, and would like to see him remembered
 in the next History of Emmitsburg, Please send us any stories or
 anecdotes about him to us at: history@emmitsburg.net