Kassandra “Kassie” Maas, 19 of Eliza, died unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, from a seizure disorder she has had for many years. Visitation is 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, August 3, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. Private services will be held. In lieu of flowers, in honor of Kassie’s love for animals, the families ask memorials to be given to the Mercer County Animal Shelter.
Kassandra Nicole was born on April 6, 2005, in Moline, Illinois, to Ronald A. and Jennifer (Olson) Maas. Kassie had attended Black Hawk East for Veterinarian Assistant and had just returned home from an internship in Maine and was interviewing for her dream job of working with animals.
Kassie loved all animals, but especially her pet rat, Homer (that Mom and Dad didn’t know about), and her cat, Kia. She was always advocating for pet adoption. When she wasn’t busy helping with animals, she could be found reading, drawing, baking or collecting dream catchers. She enjoyed the outdoors, where she could collect rocks and shells, 4-wheel, fish, and ride horses. She loved to bake but also loved to make smores over a fire. If there was no time to bake, she especially enjoyed Nothing Bundt Cakes and Crumbl Cookies. Kassie’s niece and nephew were her world and time with them always put a smile on her face, as did her boyfriend, Preston.
Kassie was loved beyond measure by her family who include her parents, Ron and Jennifer; brother and sister-in-law, Ronnie and Cierra Maas; nephew, Sawyer; niece, Sophia; grandparents, Ronald Maas and Sam and Wanda Olson; great-grandmother, Marge Olson; uncles and aunts, Nick and Amy Maas, Rich and Jessica Olson, and Scott & Jennifer Olson; and a bonus aunt, Julie Baker and husband, Aaron. Kassie was preceded in death by her grandmother, Julie Maas.