Paas, Walter V.
August 30, 2007
Walter V. Paas 92, passed away August 11, 2007, after a short illness. He was born October 12, 1914, in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1935, during the depression. He was fortunate to find employment at such companies as Automatic Electric, Bendix Radio, and Zenith Radio. On August 18, 1940, he married Doris Marinoff in Chicago. In 1950, he moved his family to Buffalo, New York to join Sylvania Electric Products. He was promoted to supervision, and was responsible for developing the drawings detailing the radio communications equipment for the B-58 Hustler supersonic bomber in the late 1950's. Outside of work, he developed a passion for growing and cross-breeding cacti. Through correspondence and trades with collectors all over the world, he accumulated an impressive winter hardy assortment of cacti appropriate for the Buffalo winters. He was also an avid collector of such things as stamps, colored glass insulators, and counter checks. With the closure of its Buffalo laboratory in 1972, the company, which had become GTE Electronics, moved him to the Boston area. In 1973, he retired, and in 1975, he and Doris moved to Indianapolis to be close to family. He was ever the devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Doris; sons, Terrance (Patricia) of Indianapolis and John Roger (Martha) of Northfield, MN; sister, Mary Kyzivat of Sterling, IL; granddaughters, Lori Wiegand (Doug), Lisa Steele (John), Emily Pailthorpe (Daniel), and Anne Paas; plus five great-grandchildren. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 1, at St. Pius X Church, 2900 East on 71st Street, of which he was a member. Friends may call from 9:30 until the time of the service. Entombment will be at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Pius X Church or a charity of the donor's choice. Arrangements entrusted to Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary.