Joel John Laas, age 93, died of natural causes in his home on July 4, 2015. Joel was born on August 27, 1921 in Trego County to Jacob and Mary (Schneider)Laas. Joel attended grade school in Utica, Kansas and high school in Ness City, Kansas. He enlisted in the Marines on February 2, 1942, where he met and married Helen J. Calhoun on March 20, 1946. Joel was discharged on February 8, 1946.

In 1973 he retired from the US Navy as a systems engineer and they made their home in Gardnerville, NV until her death on January 29, 2010. he returned to make his home in Ness City in 2012.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Mary Laas; brothers, Samuel, Sigurd, Rudolph, Jakie, and Emil; his sisters, Emma (Matkins) and Rebecca. He is survived by his sister, Mary Laas Bain of Ness City, numerous and beloved nephews and nieces and many great and great-great nephews and nieces.

Inurnment services will be held in the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Santa Nella, CA at a later date. Memorials may be made to the local Alzheimer's Association in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home, PO Box 96, Ness City, Kansas 67560.

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