Peter Maaske's Obituary
Maaske, Peter Of Mesquite, died Friday the 10th of October. Peter was a proud graduate of Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Co. and Colorado State University in Fort Collins. After working with CPS in Colorado, he moved to Texas in the early 1970’s to work with the juvenile department as a social worker, counselor and probation officer. He went back to school to pursue his lifelong love of electronics and was an electronics teacher at South Garland High School from 1988 to 2003. He also taught electronics at Eastfield College. He saved letters from many of his students thanking him for the difference he made in their lives. He was extremely pleased to be chosen Regular Ed Teacher of the Year by the special-education department at South Garland High School for the year 2001- 2002. Peter was able to inspire his students personally in addition to teaching them electronics in creative ways, taking them to win many science fair prizes. Peter loved animals and rescued several dogs. He supported numerous animal welfare and environmental organizations. Peter is survived by his beloved wife Ruth (formerly Watkins), her children Paul Watkins, Rebecca Kajzer, Deborah Watkins, Sharon Hannabas and their families, sister Gretchen and her husband Bob Gould of Honolulu, brother Jon, of Albuquerque, nephews Scott Gould and family of Denver, and Colin Gould and family of Foster City, CA; Michael Tyler, Ashley Zackary and Justin Hannabas who affectionately called him “Papa Petey”; close friends Doug Mueller of Garland, and Bill Thompson of Durango, CO, and his beloved dogs, Bart and Quin. He was preceded in death by his parents Jessie Dunham and Clarance A. Maaske, his rottweiler Baron and his beloved Sparky-the Wonder Dog. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to a favorite organization supporting animals or the environment.
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